"and a half" vs "and half"

Question

"and a half" vs "and half"

Both 'and half' and 'and a half' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'And a half' is the more common and standard phrase used to indicate a quantity that is one half more than a whole number. 'And half' is less common and is typically used in informal speech or writing.

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

'And a half' is the standard phrase used to indicate a quantity that is one half more than a whole number. It is more formal and widely accepted compared to 'and half.'

Examples:

Two and a half cups of sugar
Three and a half hours of sleep
Four and a half years old

Alternatives:

Two and half cups of sugar
Three and half hours of sleep
Four and half years old

This phrase is used to indicate a quantity that is one half more than a whole number. It is more informal compared to 'and a half.'

Examples:

Two and half cups of sugar
Three and half hours of sleep
Four and half years old

Alternatives:

Two and a half cups of sugar
Three and a half hours of sleep
Four and a half years old

Answer 1

and a half

This phrase is correct and the more common form used to indicate a quantity that is one half more than a whole number.

Answer 2

and half

This phrase is correct but less common. It is typically used in informal speech or writing.

"and a half" vs "and half"

and a half

and half

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