a third less

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a third less" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a reduction in quantity or amount by one-third compared to a previous value. Example: "The new policy will cost a third less than the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It could be more a third less revenue.

The Economist

(A third, less likely factor might be the heat).

The New York Times

For some, environmental sustainability is a third, less important concern.

The Guardian

And the prices are about a third less than last year's, hovering around $7 a gram.

The New York Times - Food

Start with energy, for which Argentines still pay a third less than their neighbours.

The Economist

That is a third less than the $19.4 billion it has approved so far this year.

The New York Times

GE says the engine consumes almost a third less fuel than other designs.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

A third, less-known candidate, William Tong, a state legislator, is also seeking the Democratic nomination for Senate.

The New York Times

A third, less-common response was that the course was easier than expected (13.6%).

CBE Life Sciences Education

A third, less-conserved arginine, R645, appeared almost equally important for Ire1 function.

eLife

Our preliminary results indicate that there is likely a third, less-abundant vaginal Sneathia that has yet to be described.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing values, ensure the context clearly states what the "third less" refers to. For instance, "a third less than last year's sales" provides necessary context.

Common error

Avoid using "a third less" without specifying what it's being compared to. For example, instead of saying "It costs a third less", specify "It costs a third less "than the competitor"" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a third less" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun by quantifying the degree of reduction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a decrease of approximately 33.33%.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a third less" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a reduction of approximately 33.33%. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It's crucial to provide a clear reference point when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "approximately 33% reduction" or "one third diminished", depending on the context. While versatile, ensure clarity by specifying the item being reduced. The phrase is appropriate for neutral contexts, appearing often in news, science, and business-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately 33% reduction

Expresses the reduction as a percentage, providing a more precise quantification.

about 33 percent decrease

Similar to the previous phrase but uses "decrease" instead of "reduction".

roughly one-third smaller

Focuses on the resulting size after the reduction.

one-third diminished

Uses "diminished" to convey the reduction, adding a slightly formal tone.

reduced by approximately a third

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the action of reducing.

cut by about 33%

Uses the word "cut" to imply reduction in informal way, also express the reduction as percentage.

a decrease of roughly a third

Emphasizes the decrease itself rather than the final amount.

one third shave off

Adding "shave off" emphasizes removing the excess quantity, also more informal.

one third deficiency

Adding "deficiency" emphasizes the state of being not good enough

33% lower

Concise and direct expression of the reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "a third less" in a sentence?

Use "a third less" to indicate a reduction of approximately 33.33% from an original amount. For example, "The new model consumes "a third less fuel" than the previous version".

What's a more formal way to say "a third less"?

A more formal alternative to "a third less" is "approximately 33 percent less". You might say, "The budget was reduced by "approximately 33 percent less" this year."

Is it correct to say "one third less" instead of "a third less"?

Yes, "one third less" is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning as "a third less". Both phrases are interchangeable. For example, "The waiting time is "one third less than before"" is equally valid.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "a third less"?

A common mistake is failing to provide a clear reference point for the comparison. Always specify what the "third less" refers to, such as "a third less expensive than the original" rather than just "a third less".