roughly half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly half of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating or approximating a quantity that is about 50% of a whole. Example: "Roughly half of the participants in the survey reported feeling satisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Roughly half of these are obstacle races.

Independent

Roughly half of them will be female.

Independent

Roughly half of those involved crashes.

The New York Times

Roughly half of the women responded.

The New York Times

That is roughly half of its capacity.

The Economist

Roughly half of those were alcoholics.

The Guardian

Roughly half of implant recipients are children.

The New York Times - Health

So roughly half of our students graduate with debt.

Cornell University

These states control roughly half of all India's public spending.

The Economist

Ethnic Estonians make up roughly half of the city's population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet roughly half of those who do drop out later.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "roughly half of" with specific data for increased clarity. For example, "Roughly half of the students, about 500, participated in the survey."

Common error

While "roughly half of" is acceptable in many contexts, it may sound too informal for highly formal reports or scientific papers. Consider using a more precise phrase like "approximately 50 percent of" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly half of" functions as an adverbial modifier quantifying a noun. It indicates that a certain portion is approximately 50% of the whole. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly half of" is a versatile phrase used to express an approximate quantity close to 50%. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia and Science. While generally acceptable, it is advisable to consider the formality of the context and opt for more precise alternatives like "approximately 50 percent of" when required. Remember to use the phrase when an approximation is acceptable and avoid it when precision is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately half of

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately", maintaining the sense of estimation.

about half of

Substitutes "roughly" with "about", offering a more informal alternative.

around half of

Uses "around" instead of "roughly", providing a slightly less precise estimation.

nearly half of

Employs "nearly" to indicate the quantity is slightly less than half.

close to half of

Indicates that the quantity is approaching half, but not necessarily equal to it.

in the vicinity of half of

A more formal way of saying approximately half.

something like half of

Expresses an informal estimate that is similar to half.

half or so of

Indicates that the amount is half or a little bit more.

in the neighborhood of half of

Offers a less common but still understandable alternative.

a little under half of

Specifies that the amount is slightly less than half.

FAQs

How can I use "roughly half of" in a sentence?

Use "roughly half of" to indicate that an amount is approximately 50% of a total. For example, "Roughly half of the students attended the lecture."

What phrases are similar to "roughly half of"?

Alternatives include "approximately half of", "about half of", or "nearly half of". Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

Is it appropriate to use "roughly half of" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the level of formality required. In highly formal contexts, "approximately 50 percent of" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "roughly half of" and "exactly half of"?

"Roughly half of" implies an approximation, while "exactly half of" indicates a precise division into two equal parts.