Pronunciation: [kˈʌtɪŋ hˈɑːf] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the phrase "cutting half" follows the English language's phonetic rules. The word "cutting" is pronounced /ˈkʌtɪŋ/, with the "u" sound as in "bus" and the stress on the first syllable. The word "half" is pronounced /hɑːf/ with the long "a" as in "bath" and the stress on the first syllable. When used together, the phrase is spelled as "cutting half," with no added letters or changes in pronunciation.
Cutting half refers to a technique or action of dividing something into two equal parts, either physically or metaphorically. It involves the act of cleaving or separating a whole entity into two symmetrical sections, resulting in two identical or nearly identical halves.
In a physical sense, cutting half pertains to the process of slicing or dividing an object, substance, or material into two perfectly equal parts. This could involve physically slicing through an item, such as a cake or a piece of fruit, with a knife or sharp implement to create two equal halves. Similarly, it can involve dissecting an organism or specimen in biology, whereby a specimen is bisected longitudinally, producing two mirror-image halves.
Metaphorically, cutting half refers to the act of dividing or splitting something intangible or abstract into two equal segments. For instance, it can be used to describe dividing a resource, such as time or money, equally between two parties. It can also encompass dividing responsibilities, duties, or tasks evenly between individuals or teams.
The phrase cutting half can also be used idiomatically to convey the notion of reducing or decreasing something by 50%. For instance, if one says, "They cut the budget in half," it implies that the budget was reduced by 50%.
Overall, cutting half encompasses the act of dividing or separating, either physically or metaphorically, to create two equal or nearly equal parts.
The phrase "cutting half" does not have a specific etymology as it is not a commonly used phrase or idiom. However, if you are referring to the phrase "cut in half", it has a straightforward etymology. The word "cut" comes from the Old English word "cyttan", which means "to divide or separate". The term "half" comes from the Old English word "healf", which means "one of two equal parts". Therefore, "cut in half" simply means to divide or separate into two equal parts.
