Which one is correct?
"the upper half of the class" or "the upper half of his class"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"the upper half of the class" or "the upper half of his class"?

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This phrase is used to describe the top 50% of students in a class without specifying a particular class.

Examples:

The upper half of the class performed exceptionally well on the test.
She was in the upper half of the class in terms of academic performance.

Alternatives:

the top half of the class
the better half of the class
the higher-performing students in the class
the top students in the class
the more successful students in the class

This phrase is used to describe the top 50% of students in a specific class, indicating possession by 'his.'

Examples:

He was in the upper half of his class in terms of grades.
The upper half of his class received awards for their achievements.

Alternatives:

the top half of his class
the better half of his class
the higher-performing students in his class
the top students in his class
the more successful students in his class

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The upper half of the class' refers to a general group of students, while 'the upper half of his class' specifies that it is a particular class being referred to.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Answer 1

the upper half of the class

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to a general group of students.

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Answer 2

the upper half of his class

This phrase is correct and specifies a particular class being referred to.

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Which one is correct? "the upper half of the class" or "the upper half of his class"?

the upper half of the class

the upper half of his class

Related Comparisons

Which one is correct?
"the upper half of the class" or "the upper half of his class"?