take up half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take up half of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the proportion of space, time, or resources that something occupies or consumes. Example: "The new furniture will take up half of the living room, leaving little space for movement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The beautiful pastel facade of the 1920s Naumi Liora seems to take up half of the street – not surprising as it was originally 10 Chinatown shophouses.

The Guardian - Travel

Disability Richard Hawkes, chief executive, Scope A third of people using care services are working-age disabled adults, and in many areas they take up half of the local budget.

Independent

"The large majority of care homes up and down the country rely on socially-funded clients and the wages of the staff take up half of the fee for each resident.

The Guardian

This may be due to the fact that given our test scenario (2^{18}) elements almost take up half of the cache of C2PAP's Intel E5-2680 CPUs.

Journal of Big Data

"Social services now take up half of council budgets and our aging population means that proportion is only going to grow," Sir Merrick added.

BBC

The Americas have a strong representation as they take up half of the final places, and the odds are still against a team from Europe defying history and winning here in South America.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

His mortgage takes up half of that, he said.

The New York Times

Upstairs, the couple's large bedroom takes up half of the entire floor.

The New York Times

Law enforcement alone takes up half of the annual SFr1 billion ($710m) budget for drugs.

The Economist

Reform and opening has thus taken up half of China's communist life.

The Economist

The blue-carpeted stage took up half of the main floor in the 650-seat hall.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take up half of", ensure that the context clearly defines what is being divided. For instance, specify "half of the budget", "half of the room", or "half of the time".

Common error

Avoid using "take up half of" without a clear reference point. Saying "it takes up half" is ambiguous. Instead, specify what the 'half' refers to, such as "half the page" or "half the resources".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take up half of" functions as a prepositional phrase that quantifies the proportion of something occupied. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it commonly specifies how much space, time, or resources are utilized.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take up half of" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe that something occupies 50% of a specified entity. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is frequently used in news and media, as well as in wikis and scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, always specify what the 'half' refers to. For formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "occupy 50% of" or "constitute fifty percent of". Overall, understanding the nuances of this phrase will enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupy 50% of

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a numerical percentage, offering a more precise quantification.

fill half of

Emphasizes the action of occupying space to a specific extent.

constitute fifty percent of

Highlights the composition or makeup of something in terms of percentage.

account for 50% of

Focuses on the proportion that something contributes to a whole.

represent half of

Indicates that something serves as a symbol or equivalent for a certain portion.

comprise 50 percent of

Stresses the components that make up the defined quantity of a larger structure or entity.

consume half of

Implies the usage or expenditure of a resource up to a defined amount.

eat up half of

Suggests that something is depleted or consumed at the proportional amount of fifty percent.

dominate half of

Highlights the aspect of superiority or control of something occupying a set measure.

cover 50 percent of

Suggests that something extends over or conceals the portion of an object.

FAQs

How can I use "take up half of" in a sentence?

You can use "take up half of" to describe the proportion of something. For example, "The new sofa will "take up half of" the living room", or "Emails "take up half of" my workday".

What's a formal alternative to "take up half of"?

In more formal contexts, you might use alternatives such as "occupy 50% of" or "constitute fifty percent of" instead of ""take up half of"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "takes up half of"?

Yes, "takes up half of" is grammatically correct when referring to a singular subject. For example, "The project "takes up half of" our resources". If you are referring to a plural subject, use "take up half of".

What's the difference between ""take up half of"" and "fill half of"?

"Take up half of" typically refers to the space, time, or resources something occupies, while "fill half of" usually refers to the extent to which something is filled. For instance, "The desk "takes up half of" the room", versus "The glass is filled half of the way".