One in Two

[Nanny0gg]

Isn't that the same as 'half'?

Therefore, One in two of us... is the same as Half of us...

Or am I missing something?

Of course it’s the same. What is the context?

Adverts that say 'One in two of us will get cancer' is one example.

It sounds so clumsy.

It's a ratio rather than a fraction. Why is it a problem?

Is this the stand up to cancer bit.
It annoys me somewhat. I think it's from it used to be "one in three" then I guess the odds got worse so they kept it one in two to keep the wording the same.

Personally, I find it reads better to say one in two or one in four. If you say half or a quarter, I don't imagine stick men and think of it as people quite the same way. I can 'see' those who are affected and those who aren't, and it works better for me. Sorry!

I think it's more effective than saying e.g., 'half of us will get cancer' because it is easier to mentally put the 'half' outside our own households. One in two makes more impact, and mentally it's easier to process it as 'you or me'.

My DD earlier said, "It's you or me" so I guess it had an impact on her, whereas maybe half she would have thought of other people and not us.

Just sounds very clumsy and not what we would usually say.

I actually find Half more effective. It hits home to me more.

But I assume they researched it first.