well under half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well under half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a quantity that is significantly less than fifty percent of a whole. Example: "In the recent survey, well under half of the participants expressed satisfaction with the service provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Well under half of voters here supported the war beforehand.

The New York Times

They make up well under half of the nearly one million Americans receiving stents annually.

The New York Times - Health

Milda's monthly pension is €293 a month, well under half the current level in Greece.

The Guardian

You can flip the camera on and snap the shot in well under half a second.

The New York Times - Tech

"Well under half of people with type 2 diabetes are not well controlled and regulated.

The Guardian

That percentage is widely believed to have fallen since then, probably to well under half, but no precise figures exist.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

They were still well under one-half of 1 percent, but he is being more selective in what he buys.

The New York Times

For starters, about 40% of those entering four-year colleges do not receive a bachelor's degree within six years (well under one-half receive degrees in the four years it allegedly is supposed to take).

Forbes

A lawyer for a filmmaker interested in making a television documentary on Fred Astaire says Robyn's attorney told him "the price would be so high that it wasn't worth talking about" given the budget--well under half a million dollars.

Los Angeles Times

This compares with less than a quarter in Finland and well under a half in Canada – to take two countries with among the best results overall in Pisa.

The Guardian - Opinion

But such is the case, and the mood of anxiety that pervades the work of the 16 artists — all but one well under 50, half of them women, all of them part of a new art generation — is more evident than it might have been otherwise.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well under half" to clearly convey that a quantity is significantly less than 50%. For added emphasis, consider quantifying the actual percentage or fraction if known.

Common error

Avoid using "well under half" when the actual quantity is close to 50%. The phrase implies a substantial difference, so ensure the context warrants this strong assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well under half" functions as a quantifier, indicating a proportion that is significantly less than 50%. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct. It modifies nouns to specify a quantity far below half of the total.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "well under half" is a versatile quantifier used to denote a quantity significantly less than 50%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, especially in news and media. It is essential to use this phrase when the quantity is considerably less than half to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "significantly less than half" or "a small fraction" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Substantially less than half

Emphasizes the considerable difference from half.

Significantly below half

Highlights the notable difference below the 50% mark.

Far less than half

Stresses the large gap compared to half.

Considerably less than 50%

Explicitly states the percentage benchmark.

Well below 50 percent

Directly specifies the quantity being lower than half.

Markedly less than half

Emphasizes the clear and evident difference.

Noticeably under half

Indicates the difference is easily observable.

A small fraction

Indicates that the quantity is only a tiny part of the whole.

A distinctly smaller portion

Highlights the noticeable contrast in size.

A minority

Implies that the quantity represents a smaller group or portion.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "well under half" in a sentence?

You can replace "well under half" with phrases like "significantly less than half", "substantially below half", or "a small fraction depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "less than half" or "well under half"?

"Well under half" emphasizes a more considerable difference compared to simply "less than half". Use "well under half" when you want to highlight that the quantity is notably smaller than 50%.

Can "well under half" be used with countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "well under half" can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example, "Well under half of the students" (countable) or "Well under half of the budget" (uncountable).

What's the difference between "slightly under half" and "well under half"?

"Slightly under half" implies a quantity that is just below 50%, while "well under half" suggests a quantity that is much lower than 50%. The choice depends on the degree of difference you want to convey.