a half/half a teaspoon of salt ?
- Thread starter birzo
- Start date
Both are grammatically correct but 'half a teaspoon of salt' is, I think, more the more natural and more common way of saying it.
It might be different in AE?
Having said that, I think you would see '1/2 tsp salt' written in a printed recipe - which is a sort of mixture of the two.
It might be different in AE?
Having said that, I think you would see '1/2 tsp salt' written in a printed recipe - which is a sort of mixture of the two.
"Half a teaspoon" treats the teaspoon as a unit, saying that we should use half of that unit.
"A half teaspoon" treats the half-teaspoon as a unit, saying that we should use one of it.
To answer your question as to which is correct: The traditional unit is the teaspoon, not the half-teaspoon - so the first version is correct. However, measuring spoons come in fractional sizes, and most sets include a half-teaspoon measure, so the second version is correct.
This AE speaker says you can use either one.
"A half teaspoon" treats the half-teaspoon as a unit, saying that we should use one of it.
To answer your question as to which is correct: The traditional unit is the teaspoon, not the half-teaspoon - so the first version is correct. However, measuring spoons come in fractional sizes, and most sets include a half-teaspoon measure, so the second version is correct.
This AE speaker says you can use either one.
You'll also see and hear teaspoonful as often as teaspoon in all the above phrases.
Likewise tablespoon/ful.
Rover
Likewise tablespoon/ful.
Rover