a third of

USAGE SUMMARY

'a third of' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is a portion of a whole that is divided into three equal parts. For example, "A third of the students in the class raised their hands."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Dailies reach just a third of Spaniards.

The Economist

About a third of Pennsylvanians disagreed.

The New York Times - Sports

A third of Detroit lies abandoned.

The Economist

"A third of those afflicted were children.

The New York Times

A third of Latino households are overcrowded.

The Economist

A third of adults are obese.

The New York Times

A third of the city is poor.

The New York Times

A third of our budget is borrowed!

The New York Times

About a third of them cost between $250 and $1,000.

The New York Times - Arts

"And it's a third of the price".

The New York Times

A third of England's team is black.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "a third of" can refer to both countable and uncountable nouns. For example, "a third of the apples" (countable) and "a third of the water" (uncountable).

Common error

Avoid using a singular verb with "a third of" when referring to a plural noun. For example, it's incorrect to say "A third of the students is here"; the correct form is "A third of the students are here."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a third of" functions as a quantifier, specifying a portion or fraction of a whole. It is used to indicate that a quantity or group is divided into three equal parts, and the phrase refers to one of those parts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a third of" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to denote a quantity representing one part of three equal portions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. Predominantly found in news and media, it serves the purpose of quantifying portions across diverse topics. When writing with "a third of", ensure the context clarifies the 'whole' being referenced and maintain subject-verb agreement, especially when referring to plural nouns. Alternatives such as "approximately 33 percent of" or "roughly one-third of" can provide stylistic variation. The phrase carries a neutral register, making it appropriate for a broad range of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately 33 percent of

Replaces the fraction with a percentage, offering a more numerical expression of the same proportion.

roughly one-third of

Uses "roughly" to indicate an approximation, maintaining the fractional representation.

close to a third of

Emphasizes nearness to the specified fraction, suggesting slight imprecision.

about a third of

Similar to 'approximately', but uses 'about' to denote an estimate.

one out of three

Expresses the fraction in terms of individual units within a larger set.

a portion equaling a third of

Uses more formal language to describe a part equivalent to one third.

a significant fraction of

Indicates a noteworthy portion, without specifying the exact fraction.

a considerable segment of

Highlights a sizable part of the whole, avoiding precise numerical values.

a notable share of

Implies that the portion is important or worth mentioning.

some 30 percent of

Combines 'some' with a percentage, indicating an approximate but not precise quantity.

FAQs

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

Use "a third of" to indicate that a quantity is one part of three equal parts of a whole. For example, "A third of the city is green" or "A third of the budget is borrowed".

What are some alternatives to saying "a third of"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately 33 percent of", "roughly one-third of", or "one out of three" depending on the context.

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

Yes, both phrases are generally correct and interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the flow of the sentence.

When should I use "a third of" versus a more precise fraction or percentage?

Use "a third of" when an approximate value is sufficient and you don't need to be exact. For more precise data, use specific fractions (e.g., 1/3) or percentages (e.g., 33.3%).