approximately a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate an estimate of one-third of a quantity or group. Example: "Approximately a third of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Approximately a third of all the shows were benched.

The New Yorker

Approximately a third are participating for the first time.

The New York Times

Of these, approximately a third are deemed ineffective in some way.

The Guardian - Money

This is still the way of life for approximately a third of Mongolians.

The New Yorker

Injuries have forced Curry to miss approximately a third of the schedule so far.

The New York Times

We are approximately a third of the way through a decade of cuts.

The Guardian

He chose only nine watercolors, while prints make up approximately a third of the show.

The New York Times

We spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping and it's never as important as during revision time.

The Guardian

Approximately a third of all A&E attendances are alcohol-related, reaching up to 80% at weekends.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jordan's population will grow by approximately a third over the next decade, spreading the water supplies even thinner.

The New York Times

In the control group, slippage of the anchor teeth accounted for approximately a third of the space closure.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximately a third", ensure the context clearly defines what the third is referring to. For example, "Approximately a third of the students in the class are proficient in English."

Common error

Avoid using "approximately a third" when a more precise figure is available or necessary. If you know the exact percentage, it's better to state it directly to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately a third" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the extent or degree to which something is true. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximately a third" is a common and versatile adverbial phrase used to express an estimation of about one-third of a quantity. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It is suitable for use in formal, neutral, and even informal settings, though it's important to be aware of the level of precision required by the context. When a general estimate is sufficient, "approximately a third" serves as a valuable tool, whereas in situations demanding exactness, more precise figures would be preferable. The phrase sees prevalent use in scientific, journalistic, and business communications, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly one third

Replaces "approximately" with "roughly", maintaining a similar level of precision but altering the tone slightly.

about a third

Uses "about" instead of "approximately", resulting in a less formal expression.

around a third

Substitutes "approximately" with "around", indicating a similar level of estimation.

nearly a third

Highlights that the fraction is just below one-third.

almost a third

Very similar to "nearly a third", with a slightly different nuance.

close to a third

Focuses on nearness to the one-third fraction.

in the neighborhood of a third

More verbose, emphasizing the approximate nature of the quantity.

a proportion approaching a third

More formal and emphasizes the idea of movement towards one-third.

a share approximating a third

Similar to 'a proportion approaching a third', uses the word 'share' and 'approximating' to indicate an estimated portion.

something like a third

Informal, suggesting a lack of precision in the estimate.

FAQs

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

Use "approximately a third" to indicate that something is close to, but not exactly, one-third of the whole. For instance, "Approximately a third of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What phrases are similar to "approximately a third"?

You can use phrases like "roughly a third", "about a third", or "nearly a third" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "approximately a third" or "exactly 33%"?

It depends on the context. Use "approximately a third" when you want to give a general idea without being overly precise. Use "exactly 33%" when precision is important.

What's the difference between "approximately a third" and "more than a third"?

"Approximately a third" means close to 33.33%, while "more than a third" indicates a percentage greater than 33.33%. The former implies an estimation, while the latter suggests a definitive amount exceeding the one-third mark.