almost one third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost one third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a quantity that is close to one third of a whole. Example: "Almost one third of the participants agreed with the proposed changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

This too accounts for almost one third on the total global difference in the estimates.

AIDS

Almost one third (31%) relied on fee-for-service income.

BMC Pediatrics

As a result, sales have fallen by almost one third.

The Guardian - Opinion

Almost one third of the Alliance membership lives in Ontario.

The New York Times

In partial CCA analyses, the geomorphology accounted for almost one third of explained variance.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Almost one third of nTBI patients in acute care died.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Almost one-third of California's 15m Latinos live in poverty.

The Economist

Almost one-third were Fortune 500 or Global 500 companies.

The New York Times

Together, they account for almost one-third of Israel's population.

The Economist

Contracts with small businesses dropped by almost one-third.

The New York Times

Almost one-third said they have to do it regularly.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost one third", ensure the context clearly defines the whole to which the proportion refers. For example, "Almost one third of the students in the class are proficient in a second language."

Common error

Avoid using "almost one third" without specifying the total or the reference group. This can lead to ambiguity. Be precise about what constitutes the 'whole' to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost one third" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a proportion close to but not exactly one third. Ludwig's examples show it describing portions of populations, research results, and other measurable quantities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost one third" is a versatile phrase used to express an approximate proportion, slightly less than one third. Ludwig's analysis confirms it is grammatically sound and prevalent in diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. While perfectly acceptable in most writing, clarity is key: make sure the reader understands what constitutes the "whole". For greater impact, consider related alternatives like "nearly one third" or "approximately one third". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one third

Replaces "almost" with "approximately" for a more formal tone while maintaining the same meaning.

nearly one third

Uses "nearly" instead of "almost", indicating a slight deviation from exactly one third.

about one third

Substitutes "almost" with "about", suggesting an estimation close to one third.

close to one third

Emphasizes the proximity to one third, implying it's slightly less or more.

roughly one third

Replaces "almost" with "roughly", indicating an approximation without precise accuracy.

just under a third

Highlights that the quantity is slightly less than one third.

slightly less than a third

More explicitly states that the proportion is a bit below one third.

a little under one third

Similar to "slightly less than a third", but with a more informal tone.

in the vicinity of one third

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate an amount around one third.

around 30 percent

Converts the fraction to a percentage, offering a numerical estimate instead of a fractional one.

FAQs

How can I use "almost one third" in a sentence?

Use "almost one third" to indicate a quantity that is slightly less than one third of a whole. For example: "Almost one third of the population reported feeling stressed."

What are some alternatives to saying "almost one third"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly one third", "approximately one third", or "about one third" depending on the desired level of precision.

Is it correct to say "almost a third" instead of "almost one third"?

Yes, "almost a third" is also correct and conveys the same meaning as "almost one third". The choice depends on stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "almost one third" and "exactly one third"?

"Almost one third" indicates a quantity slightly less than the precise fraction, while "exactly one third" denotes the precise fraction. Use "exactly" when precision is necessary.