a two out of three

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a two out of three" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a scoring system, results, or a decision-making process that involves multiple options or criteria. Example: "In the voting process, a two out of three majority is required to pass the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

It gave high odds (essentially a two out of three chance) that Lyme disease and West Nile virus would have expanded ranges because of warming.

The New York Times

It gave high odds (essentially a two out of three chance) that Lyme disease and West Nile virus would likely have expanded ranges due to warming.

The New York Times

In those days, if you raced for five years, there was a two out of three chance you were going to die – a one out of three that you were going to live".

Independent

For identical twins that share all the same genes, if one has ADHD the other has a two out of three chance of also having it.

BBC

At Juggernaut's request, the match was a two out of three falls tables match.

Wikipedia

The objective is to create pairs based on compatible sexualities and at least a two out of three hashtag overlap.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The series has now become a two-out-of-three, and the winner will raise the trophy in San Antonio.

The New York Times - Sports

If it's a 2-2 series, now you are going back home and it is a two-out-of-three series.

The New York Times - Sports

If, for instance, the F.B.I. said that there was a two-out-of-three survival rate for those kidnappings in which there was no publicity, whereas there was a two-out-of-three death rate for kidnappings in which there was publicity, then this would become the controlling fact.

The New York Times

Three hops per bit are used, and at the receiver a two-out-of-three majority voting decision scheme is employed.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Consequence of Sound did Kanye one better, with a five-out-of-five review, as did the Telegraph and XXL hit it with a four-out-of-five review.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "two-thirds" as a more concise alternative to "a two out of three", especially in formal writing or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a two out of three" when you need to be precise; instead, opt for a percentage or a more specific ratio to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a two out of three" functions as a quantifying adjective phrase, describing a proportion or probability. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

39%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a two out of three" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a proportion or likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. While it is acceptable in many contexts, it's important to consider the level of formality required; in more formal settings, using "two-thirds" or a specific percentage might be preferable. Usage is frequent across news media and general knowledge sources such as Wikipedia, as demonstrated by the examples found. When writing, ensure the context is suitable for a simplified fraction and avoid using it when precision is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Two-thirds

Expresses the fraction directly, without using the "out of" construction.

66.67 percent

Converts the fraction to a percentage for statistical contexts.

A majority of two-thirds

Highlights that the proportion exceeds a simple majority.

Approximately 67 percent

Provides an approximate percentage for less precise communication.

Roughly two-thirds

Indicates an estimation rather than an exact calculation.

More than half

Simplifies the fraction to indicate surpassing the midpoint.

Sixty-six percent plus

Implies at least two-thirds without specifying a precise number.

A high probability

Generalizes the likelihood without quantifying it.

A substantial chance

Focuses on the significant possibility of an event.

Likely outcome

Suggests the most probable result based on available options.

FAQs

How can I use "a two out of three" in a sentence?

You can use "a two out of three" to describe probabilities or proportions. For example, "The report gave "a two out of three chance" that Lyme disease would expand due to warming".

What's a simpler way to say "a two out of three"?

A simpler way to express "a two out of three" is to use the fraction "two-thirds". For example, "Two-thirds of the students passed the exam".

Is it correct to say "two out of three" or "a two out of three"?

Both "two out of three" and "a two out of three" are correct, but "a two out of three" is often used when describing a specific probability or chance, while "two out of three" is used more generally to describe proportions.

When should I use percentages instead of "a two out of three"?

Use a percentage when precision is important or when comparing multiple proportions. For example, instead of "a two out of three", you could say "approximately 67 percent".