account for a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "account for a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing proportions or contributions of a particular element within a larger context, such as statistics or demographics. Example: "In the recent survey, respondents aged 18 to 24 account for a third of the total participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Diet-related chronic disease costs the NHS £7 billion a year, and poor diet could account for a third of all cases of both cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The Guardian

They already account for a third.

The Guardian - Business

Overall, they account for a third of the youngest children.

The Economist

Meningiomas account for a third of primary brain tumours.

The Economist

Second homes account for a third of properties in Fowey and a quarter in Mevagissey.

The Guardian

The Elise is expected to account for a third of Lotus's expanded production capacity.

The New York Times

Drug-resistant strains now account for a third of all deaths from the disease.

The Guardian - Opinion

China alone will account for a third of the jump in consumption.

The New York Times

Wafers account for a third to a half of the cost of making a solar panel.

MIT Technology Review

It will account for a third of the world's total consumption growth this year.

The New York Times

Slovaks, who account for a third of the country's 15.5 million people, were still not satisfied.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "account for a third", ensure that the context clearly defines the total or whole that the third is being calculated from. For example, "Renewable energy sources account for a third of the country's total energy production".

Common error

Avoid using "account for a third" without a clear reference to what constitutes the whole. Ambiguity can arise if the base number is not explicitly stated or easily inferred from the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "account for a third" functions as a quantitative expression indicating that something constitutes approximately one-third of a whole. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing proportions, contributions, and compositions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "account for a third" is a versatile expression used to denote that something constitutes roughly one-third of a whole. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used in diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure clarity, always specify the total or base number to which the third is related. Alternatives like "represent a third" and "make up a third" can be used for semantic variation. Keep in mind that "account for a third" contributes to effective communication across various domains by providing clear and quantifiable insights.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute a third

Replaces "account for" with "constitute", emphasizing the composition of the whole.

represent a third

Uses "represent" instead of "account for", highlighting the portion that something makes up.

make up a third

Employs "make up" for "account for", focusing on the contribution to the total.

comprise a third

Substitutes "account for" with "comprise", indicating what a part is made of.

form a third of

Changes the structure to emphasize being part of a whole.

amount to a third

Replaces "account for" with "amount to", specifying a calculated total.

equate to a third

Uses "equate to" instead of "account for", suggesting a quantitative comparison.

contribute a third

Highlights the contribution aspect, focusing on the action of giving.

a third is attributed to

Passively attributes the one-third portion, changing the sentence focus.

one third is due to

Indicates causation or origin for the one-third portion.

FAQs

How can I use "account for a third" in a sentence?

Use "account for a third" to indicate that something constitutes approximately 33.3% of a total. For example, "In our company, marketing expenses "account for a third" of the total budget".

What can I say instead of "account for a third"?

You can use alternatives like "represent a third", "constitute a third", or "make up a third" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "account for a third" or "accounts for a third"?

"Account for a third" is correct when referring to a plural subject or a general statement. "Accounts for a third" is correct when referring to a singular subject. For example, "These expenses account for a third of our spending," versus "This expense accounts for a third of our spending".

What's the difference between "account for a third" and "almost a third"?

"Account for a third" indicates a proportion that is very close to 33.3%. "Almost a third" suggests the proportion is slightly less than 33.3%. The choice depends on the precision required in your statement.