share by half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "share by half" is not commonly used in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when referring to dividing something into two equal parts, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "Let's share the pizza by half so that we both get an equal portion."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"China will benefit from WTO, but in some ways foreign companies will benefit even more," says Liu. Having increased Legend's market share by half from three years ago, Liu says that he expects the company to focus more on profitability.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Staggering No quarter given Out of captivity Feverish The cost of ideas Growing pains of the Cisco kid ReprintsConsider Ormen Lange, a North Sea gas field shared by half a dozen oil giants.

The Economist

Trying marijuana is an experience shared by half of all Americans under the age of 45 and is more common for men than for women, public opinion surveys say.

The New York Times

Sigurdsson's opinion isn't massively surprising because it's shared by half of the Premier League, whose scouts have been seemingly tripping over their tongues as they relay tales of his talent to those who make the financial decisions.

The Guardian - Sport

Others branded him creepy, a view shared by half of Britain, according to one poll.

BBC

"It looked like she attempted to cover the pan with a tea towel, as well as a fire blanket, and may have even attempted to move the pan which is a big 'no, no'". He said of the second call-out: "This is a fairly new block of student accommodation, with each kitchen shared by half a dozen flats and this involved a different kitchen.

BBC

Then came a free-fall: sales and market share fell by half within two years.

The New York Times

The former Communists slightly improved their share, by about half a percentage point.

The New York Times

Parsey's new phones, the results of a two-year effort covering seven models, could bolster Motorola's aim to lift its handset share by almost half, to 25%.

Forbes

Shares plunged by half.

The Guardian - Business

In the two months after the Gulf of Mexico spill in 2010 BP's shares fell by half (and have still to recover fully).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically acceptable, consider using more common alternatives like "divide in half" or "split equally" for clarity and better understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "share by half" in contexts where the intended meaning could be misinterpreted. Since it's not a standard phrase, readers might struggle to understand the intended meaning, especially if it's not immediately clear from the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "share by half" functions as a descriptive term indicating a division or distribution into two equal parts. As Ludwig AI points out, while understandable, it's not a standard expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "share by half" is used to express the concept of dividing something into two equal portions. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's not a common expression and can lead to misunderstanding. While grammatically acceptable, more common alternatives like "divide in half" or "split equally" are recommended for clarity. Its usage appears infrequently, predominantly in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the audience and choose a clearer, more familiar phrase to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divide in half

Emphasizes the action of splitting something into two equal parts.

split equally

Highlights the fairness and evenness of the distribution.

halve the portion

Focuses on reducing the size of something by a factor of two.

divide into two equal parts

Provides a more detailed and explicit description of the division.

share 50/50

Uses a numerical representation to indicate equal sharing.

bisect

A more formal term for dividing something into two equal parts.

split down the middle

A more visual and descriptive way to express division.

apportion equally

Focuses on the equal distribution of something among multiple parties.

distribute evenly

Highlights the uniformity of the distribution process.

go halves

A colloquial expression for sharing something equally, particularly a cost.

FAQs

What does "share by half" mean?

The phrase "share by half" is generally interpreted to mean dividing something into two equal parts or sharing it equally with another person. However, it's not a standard or commonly used expression.

What are some alternatives to "share by half"?

You can use alternatives such as "divide in half", "split equally", or "halve the portion" for better clarity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "share by half"?

While not incorrect, "share by half" is an unusual phrasing. It's better to use more common and readily understood alternatives to avoid confusion.

In what contexts might I use "share by half"?

You might use "share by half" in informal contexts where the meaning is clear from the surrounding information. However, in formal writing, it's best to opt for clearer alternatives.