below one third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "below one third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity that is less than one third of a whole, often in contexts involving measurements, statistics, or comparisons. Example: "The results showed that the participation rate was below one third of the total population surveyed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

TE in the years 1996 to 2002 is 32, 32, 32, 31, 30, 30 and 29%% respectively, which means that TE is below one third on average and has been decreasing.

Journal of Chinese Studies

The LSTER is defined as the percentage of frames within the segment whose energy level is below one third of the average energy level across the segment.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

As noted below, one third of the Jordanian laryngectomees in this study were unable to read.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Mean changes for this item were just below one third of the standard deviation.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

The actual CpG content depends on the age of the gene, but in average the content would be below one third of the theoretical (e.g. for G+C content of 50%, CpG content < 2%) [ 18].

BMC Genomics

Academics at Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders have warned that female boardroom participation could stagnate below one third without measurable targets.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The feature sizes in the chips are dropping below one-tenth of a micron.

Demystifying Chipmaking

On the other hand, in 2010 2011 there were 237 municipalities where the risk of disappearance took on values below one (first row and second column), 66 of which increased the risk to values greater than one during 2012 2013 (second row and second column).

Crime Science

The deposition rate is 3 5 nm/s; therefore, the coating time is below one second per disk.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Both values were below one tenth of average angiosperm wood (Kretschmann 2010).

Botanical Studies

With measurement times below one second per analysis point, the method is suitable for real-time, in-line quality control.

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "below one third", ensure the context clearly defines what the "whole" or "total" is, to avoid ambiguity. For example, "below one third of the total population" is more specific than simply "below one third".

Common error

Avoid using "below one third" without clearly defining the reference point or total quantity. Without a clear understanding of the base value, the statement becomes meaningless. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "below one third" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by specifying a quantity or proportion that is less than one third. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is used across various domains to describe quantities that don't meet a certain threshold or proportion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "below one third" serves to quantify or describe something that is less than one third of a specified amount. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable across diverse fields such as science, news, and formal business settings. While "less than a third" serves as a direct alternative, it's important to provide a clear reference point when using "below one third" to avoid ambiguity. Its frequency is uncommon, indicating a moderate usage level in various sources. Source authority is high, mainly due to its presence in reputable news and scientific publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than one third

Replaces "below" with "less than", offering a direct synonym while keeping the rest of the phrase identical.

under one third

Substitutes "below" with "under", providing a near-synonymous preposition with minimal change in meaning.

lower than one third

Replaces "below" with "lower than", emphasizing a comparative aspect while maintaining the same fractional value.

less than a third

Simplifies the phrase by omitting "one", making it more concise and conversational.

under a third

Similar to 'less than a third' with 'under' replacing 'below', creating a more concise alternative.

not reaching one third

Employs a more descriptive phrase to express the idea of not attaining the value of one third.

smaller than a third

A simplified alternative using 'smaller than' instead of 'less than', which emphasizes size or proportion.

a fraction smaller than one third

Uses a more formal and descriptive approach, highlighting that the value is a fraction.

falls short of one third

Expresses the idea of not quite reaching the level of one third, implying a degree of insufficiency.

a minority of one third

Highlights that it is less common that one third with the use of minority

FAQs

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

You can use "below one third" to describe a quantity or proportion that is less than one third of a whole. For example, "The participation rate was "less than one third" of the eligible voters."

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

Alternatives include "less than a third", "under one third", or "lower than one third", depending on the context. Each option offers a slightly different nuance while conveying the same general meaning.

Is it better to say "less than one third" or "below one third"?

Both phrases are generally acceptable. "Less than one third" is more straightforward and commonly used, while "below one third" is also correct and suitable in many contexts. The choice depends on stylistic preference.

When is it inappropriate to use "below one third"?

It may be inappropriate if the context lacks a clear reference point. Without knowing what the "whole" is, the phrase is meaningless. For example, saying "the temperature is "below average"" is only helpful if the average is understood.