about a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating or approximating a quantity that is roughly one-third of a whole. Example: "The survey indicated that about a third of the participants preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today its contribution is about a third.

The Economist

About a third don't want to and about a third are undecided (MINPO News).

Forbes

About a third said yes.

The New York Times

About a third of Pennsylvanians disagreed.

The New York Times - Sports

"About a third who had contracts walked.

The New York Times

About a third raise their hands.

The New York Times

How about a third?

The Guardian - Sport

She's about a third there.

University of California, Berkeley

About a third is calcified.

The New York Times

Now about a third do.

The New Yorker

About a third are women.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "about a third", ensure the context makes it clear what the 'whole' is that you are referring to. For example, "About a third of the students in the class are majoring in engineering".

Common error

Avoid using "about a third" when you have precise data. If you know the exact percentage (e.g., 33.3%), it is better to state the exact figure rather than using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about a third" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by specifying an approximate quantity or proportion. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

29%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about a third" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an approximate quantity equal to one-third of a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It is commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, serving the purpose of estimation and general description. For situations requiring precision, it's best to use exact figures, but for general communication, "about a third" provides a clear and easily understood approximation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one third

Replaces "about" with "approximately", offering a slightly more formal tone.

roughly a third

Substitutes "about" with "roughly", conveying a similar level of approximation.

around a third

Uses "around" instead of "about", providing a slightly less precise estimate.

nearly a third

Suggests the proportion is slightly less than one third.

in the neighborhood of a third

A more verbose way of saying "about a third", adding emphasis on the approximation.

close to a third

Indicates that the proportion is near but not exactly one third.

one third approximately

Reorders the phrase while retaining the core meaning and adding a touch of formality.

a third or so

Adds a colloquial touch, implying a degree of uncertainty in the estimation.

a proportion of approximately one third

A more formal and precise way of expressing the same concept.

something like a third

Uses a more casual phrasing to indicate an approximate fraction.

FAQs

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

Use "about a third" when you want to indicate an approximate quantity that is close to one-third of a whole. For example, "About a third of the survey respondents preferred the new design."

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

You can use alternatives such as "approximately one third", "roughly a third", or "around a third" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "about a third" or "one-third"?

Use "one-third" when you want to be precise. Use "about a third" when you want to indicate an approximation or estimate.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "about a third"?

It's best to avoid using "about a third" when you have exact figures available. If you know that precisely 35% of something is true, state that instead of using the approximate phrase.