in past year and a half vs in the past year and a half

Some examples from the web:

• I can imagine - four American agents killed in the past year and a half.
• 25 human rights defenders have been assassinated in the past year and a half.
• I don't work at a museum, but have you cleaned the painting in the past year and a half?
• A friend of Adam Dorwin, who recruited you and to whom you've reported for the past year and a half.
• Madam President, in our political institutions there has never been as much talk about public health as during the past year and a half.
• She hasn't let me in the bathroom for the past year and a half.
• This becomes clear when one looks at the past year and a half of its activities.
• He explained that the measures taken by his government over the past year and a half were necessary because Hungary was on the brink of economic collapse in 2010 and a consolidation process is going on now.
• Over the past year and a half, 15 electronics and related companies have ended their manufacturing operations in Europe.
• Once more I would like to thank my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs, the Commission and the Council for excellent teamwork over the past year and a half.
• So for the past year and a half, my team at Push Pop Press and Charlie Melcher and Melcher Media have been working on creating the first feature-length interactive book.
• Finally, let me express my sincere thanks to Mr McMahon of the Group of the Party of European Socialists for our close and harmonious cooperation over the past year and a half, during which we became friends.
• Those who have worked with me for the past year and a half know by now that I tend to speak in a very open and frank way. I can honestly say that this is the only legislative proposal I never thought I would have to fight for.
• I would like to congratulate the Danish Presidency of the Council on the result achieved at Copenhagen, but I must also take this opportunity to thank Mr Böge, Parliament's rapporteur on the financing of enlargement, for his support over the past year and a half.
• My dear friends and colleagues, colleagues in the most exact sense of the word, friends whom I have missed for the past year and a half.
• Moreover, concerning the statistics, and referring to what was said by Mr Leinen, Mr Martin and many others, we have made significant progress in improving the European statistical system over the past year and a half.
• The Commission has been actively working over the past year and a half to reinforce the EU's external policy on energy and, as the report recognises, there have been a number of significant achievements.
• On the basis of its Global Approach to Migration, the European Union has greatly intensified its cooperation with the countries of Africa and the Mediterranean region over the past year and a half.
• For instance, the 'Thalis' and 'Archimedes' programmes for funding research groups have been frozen for the past year and a half, for reasons that remain unclear.
• For the past year and a half, the Commission has been investigating whether or not the aid to the restructuring of ABX Logistics, which is classified as State aid, has distorted the market.

Some examples from the web:

• I can imagine - four American agents killed in the past year and a half.
• 25 human rights defenders have been assassinated in the past year and a half.
• I don't work at a museum, but have you cleaned the painting in the past year and a half?
• She hasn't let me in the bathroom for the past year and a half.
• A friend of Adam Dorwin, who recruited you and to whom you've reported for the past year and a half.
• Madam President, in our political institutions there has never been as much talk about public health as during the past year and a half.
• This becomes clear when one looks at the past year and a half of its activities.
• He explained that the measures taken by his government over the past year and a half were necessary because Hungary was on the brink of economic collapse in 2010 and a consolidation process is going on now.
• Over the past year and a half, 15 electronics and related companies have ended their manufacturing operations in Europe.
• Once more I would like to thank my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs, the Commission and the Council for excellent teamwork over the past year and a half.
• So for the past year and a half, my team at Push Pop Press and Charlie Melcher and Melcher Media have been working on creating the first feature-length interactive book.
• Finally, let me express my sincere thanks to Mr McMahon of the Group of the Party of European Socialists for our close and harmonious cooperation over the past year and a half, during which we became friends.
• Those who have worked with me for the past year and a half know by now that I tend to speak in a very open and frank way. I can honestly say that this is the only legislative proposal I never thought I would have to fight for.
• I would like to congratulate the Danish Presidency of the Council on the result achieved at Copenhagen, but I must also take this opportunity to thank Mr Böge, Parliament's rapporteur on the financing of enlargement, for his support over the past year and a half.
• My dear friends and colleagues, colleagues in the most exact sense of the word, friends whom I have missed for the past year and a half.
• Moreover, concerning the statistics, and referring to what was said by Mr Leinen, Mr Martin and many others, we have made significant progress in improving the European statistical system over the past year and a half.
• The Commission has been actively working over the past year and a half to reinforce the EU's external policy on energy and, as the report recognises, there have been a number of significant achievements.
• On the basis of its Global Approach to Migration, the European Union has greatly intensified its cooperation with the countries of Africa and the Mediterranean region over the past year and a half.
• For instance, the 'Thalis' and 'Archimedes' programmes for funding research groups have been frozen for the past year and a half, for reasons that remain unclear.
• An hour and a half ago, two agents were attacked by a man who we believe is responsible for 10 murders in the past year.