a third of world

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a third of world" is not correct in written English.
It should be "a third of the world" to be grammatically accurate. Example: "A third of the world is affected by climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

This is good news for Russia, which hasabout a third of world oil reserves.

Independent

Brazil accounts for about a third of world soyabean exports, second only to America.

The Economist

At their peak, these three accounted for nearly a third of world clothing exports.

The Economist

The three big companies, which represent about a third of world capacity, lost millions of dollars.

The New York Times

It also suits America, which accounts for almost a third of world output, but casts only 17% of the votes.

The Economist

With its swathes of rain-fed pastures, New Zealand now claims a third of world dairy exports.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

It now accounts for nearly a fifth of world energy consumption.

The Economist

Oil prices are set in a world market, and America, which accounts for only about a tenth of world production, can't move those prices much.

The New York Times

Angola produces some of the finest diamonds in the world, about $700m-worth 700m-worth in valast year a tenth of world productinn.

The Economist

On climate change, the EU is a small part of the problem (its members produce only a seventh of world carbon pollution).

The Economist

According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, an inter-governmental body, China's output rose nearly 19% in 1997, to 1.4m tonnes almost a fifth of world production.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the complete phrase "a third of the world" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. While the shorter version appears in some sources, it is not considered standard English.

Common error

The most frequent mistake is leaving out the definite article "the" before "world". Remember to always include "the" to adhere to proper grammatical structure: "a third of the world", not "a third of world".

Linguistic Context

The phrase, ideally as "a third of the world", functions as a quantifier, specifying a proportion of a global entity. It modifies a noun, indicating a part of the whole. Although Ludwig AI identifies the expression "a third of world" as incorrect, the examples show its actual usage, however not recommended.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

27%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a third of world" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a third of the world". Ludwig AI identifies this grammatical error, and proper usage should always include the definite article "the". Although common, omitting "the" diminishes clarity and professionalism. The phrase is used to express proportions on a global scale, often in news, business, and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one third of the globe

Replaces "world" with "globe" and adds "approximately" to indicate an estimation.

a third of the planet

Substitutes "world" with "planet", providing a more general term.

one third of worldwide

Replaces "a" with "one" and uses "worldwide" as an adjective.

roughly a third of the world's

Adds "roughly" to indicate an approximation.

around a third of the world

Uses "around" to signify an approximate quantity.

nearly a third of the earth

Replaces "world" with "earth" and uses "nearly" to indicate an approach to a specific quantity.

almost a third of the international community

Specifies the "world" as the "international community", narrowing the scope.

a proportion of the world

Replaces "a third" with "a proportion", indicating an unspecified fraction.

a significant portion of the world

Uses "a significant portion" to denote a notable but undefined part.

a considerable fraction of the world

Employs "a considerable fraction" to suggest a substantial but inexact amount.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a third of world"?

The grammatically correct way to express this is "a third of the world". Omitting "the" is a common error.

Are there other ways to express "a third of the world"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "approximately "one third of the globe"" or "nearly "a third of the planet"", depending on the context and desired level of precision.

Why is it important to say "a third of the world" instead of "a third of world"?

Including "the" makes the phrase grammatically correct and ensures clarity. Without "the", the phrase sounds incomplete and doesn't follow standard English usage.

Is "a third of world" ever acceptable?

While some sources may use the shortened version, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's best to use "a third of the world" for accuracy and clarity.