reducing by half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reducing by half" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of decreasing something to 50% of its original amount or value. Example: "The company is focused on reducing by half its carbon emissions over the next five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Blood lipids and blood pressure drop, reducing by half the risk of heart disease.

The New York Times - Health

Peña Nieto campaigned on the promise of reducing by half the number of murders in Mexico.

The New York Times

His program, the Global Plan to Stop TB, is a road map for reducing by half TB prevalence and deaths by 2015 compared with 1990 levels.

The New York Times

Consequently the suction pyrometer can be used to measure simultaneously temperature and species, reducing by half the length of the experimental campaign.

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

During Peter's short six-month reign, Count Peter Shuvalov's scheme of raising money for the government, by reducing by half the metal content of the existing copper coinage, was quickly implemented.

Yale University

Last September, world leaders at the millennium summit meeting here set a goal to be met by 2015 of reducing by half the proportion of people who earn less than $1 a day and who go hungry.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Boil until reduced by half.

The New York Times - Food

Let wine reduce by half.

The New York Times - Food

Simmer until reduced by half.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cook until wine is reduced by half.

The New York Times - Food

Boil vinegar to reduce by half.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reducing by half" to clearly express a decrease of 50% in numerical data, reports, or when setting specific targets, such as "reducing by half the number of people without access to clean water".

Common error

Avoid using "reducing by half" when the intended meaning is simply a decrease or reduction without specifying the exact percentage. For general reductions, use terms like "decreasing" or "lowering" instead.

Linguistic Context

Reducing by half" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating a specific quantitative decrease. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of diminishing something to 50% of its original value, seen in examples related to poverty reduction, disease prevalence and financial figures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reducing by half" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a decrease to 50% of the original value. As Ludwig AI validates, this phrase is versatile, fitting into news reports, scientific papers, and business communications alike. While alternatives like "cutting in half" or "halving" exist, "reducing by half" offers clarity and precision, making it a reliable choice. Be mindful to use it only when an exact 50% reduction is intended to avoid misinterpretations. It appears very frequently in News & Media and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cutting in half

Replaces "reducing" with "cutting", providing a more direct and action-oriented feel.

halving

A more concise, single-word alternative to "reducing by half".

decreasing by 50 percent

Uses a numerical percentage for emphasis and precision.

slashing by 50%

Implies a more aggressive or dramatic reduction.

diminishing by half

Offers a more formal and gradual sense of reduction.

brought down by 50%

Uses a more informal phrasing with similar meaning.

cutting down to half

Focuses on the final state of being at half the original amount.

trimming by 50 percent

Suggests a more precise and careful reduction.

bringing down to 50 percent

Highlights the action of lowering something to a specific percentage.

scale down by 50%

Suggests a proportionate reduction in overall size or scope.

FAQs

How can I use "reducing by half" in a sentence?

You can use "reducing by half" to describe a decrease to 50% of the original amount, such as in the sentence, "The company aims at "reducing by half" its carbon footprint by 2030."

What can I say instead of "reducing by half"?

Alternatives include "cutting in half", "halving", or "decreasing by 50 percent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "reducing by half" or "reducing in half"?

"Reducing by half" is the correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a decrease to 50%. "Reducing in half" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "reducing by half" and "reducing slightly"?

"Reducing by half" means decreasing to exactly 50% of the original value. "Reducing slightly" indicates a small, unspecified decrease, significantly less than 50%.