second half of december

USAGE SUMMARY

"second half of December" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It refers to the latter part of December, specifically the time period from the 16th to the 31st of the month. Example: I will be busy with holiday preparations during the second half of December, so let's plan to meet up in the first week of January.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Asked about the drop in contributions to Mr. Liu, Mr. Arzt said the campaign began to refocus on fund-raising in the second half of December.

The New York Times

Many hospitals started to cancel routine surgery in the second half of December in preparation for possible problems over the millennium holiday period.

The Guardian

Bain has found a clear drop in Net Promoter Scores in the second half of December from the first half of the month.

Harvard Business Review

Temperatures exceeded their normal seasonal average by 4-5C nationwith, witHelsinkiki and southern Finland recording the mildest second half of December in 30 years.

The Guardian

August and the second half of December, when business travel drops off, are also good times for city break deals in the UK and continental Europe.

The Guardian - Travel

The second half of December seems to be the time when classical music's old pros go away and the young and aspiring take over.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He died last September.

The New York Times

(It reopened last December).

The New York Times - Food

2008 December.

Stanford University

2012 December.

Stanford University

11 last December.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "second half of December", be mindful of your audience. In formal contexts, it may be preferable to specify dates (e.g., "December 16-31") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "second half of December" begins precisely on December 15th. While generally understood as the latter portion, specifying dates removes ambiguity if precision is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second half of December" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event or situation occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Travel

11%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second half of December" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to refer to the latter part of December, specifically the period from the 16th to the 31st. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples demonstrating its usage in contexts such as news, travel, and business. While generally understood, in formal settings, providing specific dates may enhance clarity. Alternatives like "latter part of December" or "end of December" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

latter part of December

Replaces "second half" with "latter part", a direct synonym.

latter portion of December

Similar to "latter part", but with a slightly different word choice.

last two weeks of December

Specifies the time frame more explicitly.

from mid-December onward

Indicates a starting point and continuation.

latter stages of December

Highlights the progression towards the end.

latter phase of December

Another variant emphasizing the ending period.

end of December

Focuses on the final portion of the month.

the period after mid-December

A more descriptive way of indicating the time frame.

December 16th to 31st

Provides the exact dates encompassed.

closing days of December

Emphasizes the approaching end of the month.

FAQs

What does "second half of December" mean?

The phrase "second half of December" refers to the period from December 16th to December 31st.

How can I rephrase "second half of December"?

You can use alternatives such as "latter part of December", "last two weeks of December", or "end of December".

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

While acceptable, specifying the dates (e.g., December 16-31) might be preferable in formal contexts for increased precision.

What's the difference between "early December" and "second half of December"?

"Early December" refers to the beginning of the month, typically the 1st through the 15th, whereas "second half of December" indicates the latter part, from the 16th to the 31st.