This dictionary contained 12,000 words of which half of them remained. The other half was lost.

Question

Hi, Another one:1.      The Renaissance period saw the first dictionary of  ‘hard’ words. This dictionary contained 12,000 words of which half of them  remained. The other half was lost. I know there's something incorrect about the usage of 'half', but I'm not quite sure what.Thank you for your advice!Dokterjokkebrok

Ferdis · Accepted Answer

I'd write something like this:

This dictionary contained 12,000 words, half of which remains[;][,] the other half [was] lost.

(Others will have to judge whether that is OK.

)

Soka · Answer

The dictionary contained 12,000 words, half of which still remains, while the other half is lost.

Let's see what others say

Ferdis · Answer

I'm suddenly wondering whether half of which is singular or plural. Perhaps the singular form is justified because this a collective half.

Soka · Answer

[ One] half of which.

Two halves of which. (Two halves

)

Ferdis · Answer

Half of [12,000 words]

Usually, when half is followed by a plural form, the whole phrase takes the plural form as well. Half of the guests [plural] are conversing with eachother [interaction within the group so collective not possible]; the other half [collective] is eating.

So this question is, I think, somewhat similar to chosing between these two:

6,000 words is all that remains.

6,000 words are remaining.

I guess this is that tricky subject of collective nouns again that even puzzles most native speakers.

This dictionary contained 12,000 words of which half of them remained. The other half was lost.

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