virtually half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "virtually half of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate amount or proportion that is close to fifty percent. Example: "In the recent survey, virtually half of the participants expressed a preference for online learning over traditional classroom settings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Virtually half of the movies that come out.

The Guardian - Film

"The University of Tennessee had virtually half of their kids arrested on New Year's Eve.

The New York Times - Sports

But this year, it will need to borrow 45percentt, virtually half, of what it is projected to spend.

The New York Times - Magazine

To my mind, the most striking thing about the Iowa poll wasn't that virtually half of likely Democratic voters embraced the designation "socialist".

The New Yorker

Bars: Each venue room has its own bars, not surprisingly, but in 1, the two long stretches take up virtually half of the wall-space.

The Guardian - Music

At the same time, 17 of the nation's governors, virtually half of those whose offices are at stake, are not running for re-election.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The peace deal was liked by virtually all Catholics but only about half of the Protestants.

The Economist

The newest versions of the combination can virtually eliminate the virus in about half of the patients.

The New York Times - Health

Social Security accounts for virtually all of the income of about half of African American seniors aged 65 or older.

Huffington Post

About half of the larvae became infected when they fed virtually in contact with the infecting nymph and when the nymph had become replete (Table 1).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is present in about half of sexually active people.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "virtually half of", ensure the context makes it clear that you're providing an approximation, not an exact figure. This phrase is best used when precision is not critical.

Common error

Avoid using "virtually half of" when more accurate data is available. Using an approximation when a precise number is known can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "virtually half of" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun phrase to indicate an approximate quantity nearing fifty percent. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "virtually half of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate an approximation near 50%. According to Ludwig, it is considered correct and usable in writing. It serves to provide an estimation rather than a precise value, commonly appearing in news, scientific, and business contexts. Remember to use it when precision is not critical, and be aware that alternatives like "almost half of" or "nearly half of" may suit different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost half of

Indicates a quantity slightly less than half.

nearly half of

Similar to 'almost half of', suggesting a quantity close to but not quite half.

close to half of

Emphasizes the proximity to the halfway point.

approximately half of

Adds a more formal tone, indicating an estimated half.

around half of

A more casual way to express an approximate half.

just under half of

Highlights that the quantity is slightly below 50%.

in the vicinity of half of

A more verbose and formal way of saying 'around half of'.

something like half of

Emphasizes the inexact nature of the estimate.

a good portion of

Uses a more general term for a significant part, without being specific to 'half'.

a sizable fraction of

Emphasizes that the portion being described is significant and large.

FAQs

What does "virtually half of" mean?

The phrase "virtually half of" means almost or nearly half of something. It implies an approximation that is close to 50% but not exactly half.

What can I say instead of "virtually half of"?

You can use alternatives like "almost half of", "nearly half of", or "approximately half of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "virtually half of the people"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "virtually half of the people". It's a common way to express that close to 50% of a group of people are being referred to.

How does "virtually half of" compare to "more than half of"?

"Virtually half of" means close to 50%, while "more than half of" indicates anything greater than 50%. They describe different proportions and should be used accordingly.