reduction by half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reduction by half" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is decreased to half its original amount or size. For example: "With the introduction of the new tax laws, there has been a reduction by half in the cost of manufacturing materials."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Typical of the cuts was the County of Los Angeles Public Library, which lost $29.4 million, half of its budget; this forced two-day-a-week service at 43 of its 87 branches, a reduction by half of operating hours at the others, and the loss of some 200 staff positions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Based on the responses, a price reduction by half would result in a notable reduction in the existing price barrier.

Energy Procedia

With the proposed reduction by half of the dosage of oxa- and cloxacillin when the creatinine clearance is less than 30 mL/min, a large proportion of patients remain overdosed.

Annals of Intensive Care

Even if the severity of our patients' condition may be an additional risk factor for overdosing in an ICU context, the proposed reduction by half of the dosage when the creatinine clearance is less than 30 mL/min is far from satisfactory.

Annals of Intensive Care

According to our algorithm, this requires a large reduction (by half) in the insulin infusion rate and an early (1-h) next glucose measurement/reading.

Diabetes Care

We estimated using regression analysis that the reduction by half of SCO percentage took about twice as long in irradiated KO than in irradiated WT.

Cell Death and Disease

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Reduction by one-half or discontinuation of SU with initiation of exenatide therapy is generally recommended [ 4,  12,  35].

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

Particularly notable is the modesty of the poverty reduction target (reducing by half, in the year 2015, the proportion of the world's people living on less than $1/day) when viewed against the background of expanding global affluence [ 6].

Globalization and Health

After adjustment for age and sex of the child, PRs were 0.55 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43 0.72], 0.35 (95% CI, 0.25 0.49), and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.28 00.65) for A. lumbricoides, T. trichuria, and G. duodenalis infection, respectively, corresponding to a reduction by roughly half or more than half in the prevalence of infection.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The number of modifications that included principal reduction fell by half.

The New York Times

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power missed its 16% reduction target by half a percentage point, according to the water board's data.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reduction by half", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being reduced and the original value or amount from which the reduction is occurring.

Common error

Avoid using "reduction by half" without clearly specifying the subject being reduced. For example, instead of saying "There was a reduction by half", specify "There was a reduction by half in the number of reported cases".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduction by half" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the object of a verb or as a complement, describing the extent of a decrease. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

23%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reduction by half" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to describe a decrease of something to half its original amount. As Ludwig AI explains, it is suitable for use in written English. Our analysis, supported by Ludwig's examples, reveals that it's most frequently found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "halving of" or "50 percent reduction" exist, "reduction by half" offers a clear and concise way to convey a quantitative decrease. Ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is being reduced to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decrease by 50 percent

Uses a numerical percentage to specify the amount of reduction.

a 50% reduction

Presents the reduction as a percentage-based decrease.

fifty percent decrease

Uses a numerical percentage to emphasize the decrease.

halving of

Focuses on the act of dividing something into two equal parts.

reduced to fifty percent

States the final value as a percentage of the original.

down by fifty percent

Implies a downward trend or movement resulting in a 50% decrease.

cut in half

Emphasizes a sudden or distinct decrease to half the original amount.

one-half reduction

Uses a fraction to describe the extent of the reduction.

nearly halved

Indicates an approximate reduction to half.

a marked diminution by half

Highlights a notable and significant decrease to half.

FAQs

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

You can use "reduction by half" to describe a situation where something is decreased to 50% of its original value. For example: "The new policy resulted in a "reduction by half" in the number of accidents."

What are some alternatives to "reduction by half"?

Some alternatives include "halving of", "decrease by 50 percent", or "a 50 percent reduction". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "reduction by half" or "50 percent reduction"?

Both "reduction by half" and "50 percent reduction" are correct and generally interchangeable. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference or the flow of the sentence.

What is the difference between "reduction by half" and "decrease by half"?

While very similar, "reduction by half" emphasizes the final state (a reduced quantity), whereas "decrease by half" highlights the action of reducing. They are largely interchangeable in most contexts.