around one third

USAGE SUMMARY

"around one third" is an acceptable phrase that can be used in written English.
For example, "Around one third of the students in the class failed the test".

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Around one third of preterm deliveries starts with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM).

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

We also estimate that around one third of the participants play non-strategically.

Games and Economic Behavior

Around one third to one fourth of the covariates still differ significantly after matching.

IZA Journal of Migration

Finally, around one third of the households live under poverty status.

Pastoralism

Pronunciations for around one third of them were obtained from CMUdict.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Around one third of these women were premenopausal (Table 1).

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

However, a substantial fraction (around one-third) could not be associated with either of these types.

Acta Materialia

Ariane still has around one-third.

Forbes

The proportion of private entrepreneurs with Communist Party membership reached around one-third up to 2011.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

In scenario c, the intervention is thus around one-third more effective than in scenario d.

BMJ Open

Restriction of the analysis to invasive tumours only reduces the overdiagnosis estimates by around one-third.

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around one third", ensure the context implies an estimation rather than a precise figure. If precision is needed, use percentages or fractions directly.

Common error

Avoid treating "around one third" as an exact quantity. Instead, use it to indicate a rough estimate. When dealing with precise data, opt for specific percentages or fractions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around one third" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by providing an approximate quantity or proportion. It is commonly used to describe portions or amounts that are close to but not exactly one-third.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "around one third" is a commonly used adjectival phrase that serves to approximate a quantity or proportion. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptable use in various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal business communication. While it's generally understood to convey an estimation rather than an exact figure, it's crucial to avoid misinterpreting it as a precise measurement. Alternatives like "approximately a third" or "roughly one third" can be used depending on the level of formality required. Its frequency and widespread application in diverse sources highlight its utility in general English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately a third

Replaces "around" with "approximately", maintaining the same meaning but with slightly more formal tone.

roughly one third

Substitutes "around" with "roughly", indicating an estimate that is not precise but close to one third.

about a third

Uses "about" instead of "around", offering a simpler and more casual way to express the same approximation.

nearly one third

Emphasizes that the value is just shy of being one third.

in the vicinity of one third

A more formal and less common way of saying "around one third", indicating an approximate quantity.

in the neighborhood of one third

Similar to "in the vicinity of one third", but slightly less formal, suggesting an approximation.

close to a third

Highlights that the actual value is near but not exactly one third.

something like a third

Indicates a more casual estimate, suggesting the quantity is similar to one third.

a proportion of about 33 percent

Expresses the same quantity in percentage form, offering a more precise but less colloquial alternative.

just over 30 percent

Quantifies "around one third" with a specific percentage range, making the estimation more concrete.

FAQs

What does "around one third" mean?

The phrase "around one third" means approximately 33%, suggesting an estimate that is not exact but close to that fraction. It is often used when precision is not required or when the exact number is unknown.

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

You can use "around one third" to describe portions or quantities. For example, "Around one third of the students in the class passed the exam", or "The project is around one third complete".

What can I say instead of "around one third"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately a third", "roughly one third", or "about a third" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "around one third" or "33%"?

The choice depends on the context. Use "around one third" when an approximation is sufficient and you want to avoid being overly precise. Use "33%" when you need a more specific and numerically accurate representation.