a fifth of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fifth of" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you can use it to describe a portion of something: "He ate a fifth of the pizza."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A fifth of MEPs?

The Economist

A fifth of voters remain undecided.

The Economist

A fifth of the class was foreign.

The New Yorker

A fifth of these come from Western Europe.

Independent

Women make up a fifth of participants.

The New York Times

That's a fifth of its investment wealth.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We'll be manufacturing a fifth of that".

The New York Times

A fifth of us are on Twitter.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indonesia spends about a fifth of its budget on them.

The Economist

A fifth of the country flooded by torrential monsoon rains.

The New York Times

Naval intervention disrupts around a fifth of the attacks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fifth of", ensure the context clearly defines the whole being divided. For example, "a fifth of the population" is clearer than just "a fifth".

Common error

Avoid using "a fifth of" without specifying what the fraction refers to. Vague references can confuse your audience and weaken your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fifth of" functions as a quantifier, specifying a fraction or proportion of a whole. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use across different domains. This aligns with the "Correct" grammatical status from Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fifth of" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express a quantity representing one part of five. Ludwig confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts. This phrase is particularly prevalent in news and media, and while suitable for formal settings, it maintains a neutral register. When incorporating "a fifth of" into your writing, ensure clarity by specifying the whole to which the fraction refers. By avoiding ambiguity, you can leverage this phrase effectively to convey proportions and quantities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one-fifth of

Uses the numerical form instead of the article "a".

20 percent of

Expresses the same proportion using percentage instead of a fraction.

a fifth part of

Replaces "of" with "part of", maintaining the meaning.

around a fifth of

Introduces slight vagueness in the fractional quantity.

approximately 20% of

Adds the element of approximation to the proportion.

one part in five of

Expresses the fraction as a ratio.

a share equal to a fifth of

Emphasizes the distribution aspect represented by a fifth.

a portion consisting of one fifth

Rephrases the idea using a descriptive form, emphasizing the fractional part.

a fifth in terms of

Used to indicate proportion in specific parameters.

a small fraction of

Implies "a fifth of" is just a small part of the whole.

FAQs

How can I use "a fifth of" in a sentence?

Use "a fifth of" to denote a quantity that represents one part out of five equal parts of a whole. For example, "A fifth of the students passed the exam."

What is another way to say "a fifth of"?

Alternatives include "20 percent of", "one-fifth of", or "a small fraction of depending on the desired level of precision".

Is it better to use "a fifth of" or "20 percent of"?

Both "a fifth of" and "20 percent of" are correct and interchangeable. The choice depends on context and desired style. "A fifth of" is more informal, while "20 percent of" is more common in statistical or business contexts.

When should I avoid using "a fifth of"?

Avoid using "a fifth of" when the context requires greater precision. In such cases, providing exact numbers or percentages is better than using fractions. Also, avoid using it when the 'whole' is not clearly defined.