almost a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost a third" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something is close to a third of a given amount. For example: "There were almost a third as many people at the event as expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost a third of your salary!

The Guardian - Opinion

Almost a third make the honor roll.

The New York Times

Nordstrom is down almost a third.

The New York Times

On average, almost a third of rural smallholders grow trees.

Forest Policy and Economics

Almost a third (32%) have been without a permanent address.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

Almost a third of them buy the results.

The Economist

Trade subtracted almost a third of a percentage point.

The New York Times

Almost a third of these law professors contributed to campaigns.

The New York Times

Almost a third would like to emigrate permanently.

The Economist

Almost a third of wage-earners work on Sundays.

The Economist

Almost a third of those work in North America.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost a third", ensure the context clearly defines the total amount being referred to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost a third" when you mean a quantity greater than a third. "Almost a third" means slightly less than 33.33%. If it's more, use phrases like "over a third" or "more than a third".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost a third" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate an approximate proportion. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost a third" is a common and versatile quantifier used to express a proportion slightly less than one-third. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, including news, science, and academic texts. When writing, ensure the context clearly defines the total quantity being referenced. Alternatives such as "nearly one third" or "approximately 30 percent" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and precision. The phrase's widespread applicability and neutral register make it a valuable tool for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly one third

Changes 'almost' to 'nearly', maintaining a very similar meaning.

close to a third

Replaces 'almost' with 'close to', indicating a similar approximation.

just under a third

Indicates a quantity slightly less than a third.

approximately 30 percent

Converts the fraction to a percentage for more precise approximation.

roughly thirty percent

Similar to 'approximately 30 percent', but uses 'roughly' for a less formal tone.

around a third

Uses 'around' instead of 'almost', suggesting a similar approximation.

in the vicinity of a third

More formal phrasing that conveys the same approximate quantity.

a little less than a third

Explicitly states that the quantity is slightly below a third.

nearing a third

Suggests the quantity is approaching a third, but not quite there.

in the neighborhood of thirty percent

More verbose way to say approximately thirty percent.

FAQs

How do I use "almost a third" in a sentence?

Use "almost a third" to indicate a quantity slightly less than one-third of a whole. For example, "Almost a third of the students failed the exam".

What's a more formal alternative to "almost a third"?

In formal contexts, consider using "nearly one-third" or "approximately 30 percent" as alternatives to "almost a third".

What is the difference between "almost a third" and "more than a third"?

"Almost a third" signifies a quantity that is slightly below 33.33%, whereas "more than a third" indicates a quantity exceeding that threshold.

When should I use "just under a third" instead of "almost a third"?

Both phrases are similar, but "just under a third" may emphasize the slight difference more strongly than "almost a third".