by approximately a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by approximately a third" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a measurement or change that is roughly one-third of a whole, often in contexts like statistics, finance, or research findings. Example: "The company's profits increased by approximately a third compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

Participants' confidence that they will "know what to do during and after" a hazard decreases by approximately a third among both groups when considering a lahar instead of a flood.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Frequent or occasional age discrimination is experienced by approximately a third of older adults in England.

Age and Ageing

This study was limited to data collected during the workshop that was attended by approximately a third of the doctoral students and their mentors.

BMC Medical Education

The decrease from 17too 11 assessments is particularly relevant from a practical point of view, because total assessment time is reduced by approximately a third.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

The importance of genes on the X-chromosome in the cause of mental retardation has been recognized for decades, largely due to the fact that males outnumber females in nearly all surveys of mental retardation by approximately a third [ 48].

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Although highly curable in its localised form by surgery, approximately a third of patients are diagnosed when metastatic spread has already occurred (Gupta et al, 2008); in addition, approximately 30% of patients surgically treated for a localised primary tumour will eventually develop metastases over time (Janowitz et al, 2013).

British Journal of Cancer

By contrast, approximately a fourth of Europe's total gas demand comes from Russia.

Forbes

If you look at how many women in America have been physically abused by their boyfriends and husbands (approximately a third), there seems no necessary reason why immigrant men who do such things (and only a very small percentage do) would treat their wives differently, just because they are living in America.

The New Yorker

Analysis by the Economist in 2013 showed that Thailand's exports fell by about 4 million tons, approximately a third, in the first full year of the subsidy scheme. .

Vice

In situ breast tumours account for about 20% of all breast cancers diagnosed by mammography [ 1] and approximately a third of invasive breast cancers are reported to originate from breast carcinoma in situ [ 1- 3], which may be a precursor of invasive breast cancer [ 4].

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by approximately a third", ensure the context provides sufficient detail to understand what the third is relative to. For instance, "Profits increased by approximately a third compared to last year" is clearer than "Profits increased by approximately a third."

Common error

Avoid using "by approximately a third" when more precise data is available. If you know the exact percentage, use that instead of approximating. This enhances credibility and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by approximately a third" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the extent of change or proportion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by approximately a third" is a versatile expression indicating a change or proportion that's roughly equivalent to 33%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability across various domains like science, news, and business. It's crucial to ensure clarity by specifying what the third is relative to and avoid using it when more precise data is available. Alternatives include "by roughly one third" or "by about a third", depending on the desired tone. When you need to make an estimation and want to give a sense of scale, "by approximately a third" is a good fit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by roughly one third

Replaces "approximately" with "roughly", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly less formal tone.

by about a third

Substitutes "approximately" with "about", resulting in a more casual phrasing.

by nearly a third

Emphasizes that the change is close to, but not exactly, one third.

almost a third

Similar to "nearly a third", indicating that the change is just shy of one third.

around a third

Replaces "approximately" with "around", providing a less precise estimate.

close to a third

Highlights the proximity to one third without specifying direction.

a little under a third

Specifies that the proportion is slightly less than one third.

in the neighborhood of a third

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey an approximate amount.

something like a third

Introduces more uncertainty in the approximate calculation.

in the vicinity of a third

Provides a more formal and vague estimation of the proportion.

FAQs

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

Use "by approximately a third" to indicate that a value has increased or decreased by roughly 33%. For example, "The company reduced its carbon emissions "by approximately a third" after implementing new green policies."

What are some alternatives to saying "by approximately a third"?

You can use alternatives like "by roughly one third", "by about a third", or "nearly a third depending on the context.

Is it better to say "approximately a third" or "about a third"?

Both "approximately a third" and "about a third" are acceptable. "Approximately" is slightly more formal, while "about" is more casual. Choose the one that fits the tone of your writing.

What does it mean when something increases "by approximately a third"?

It means that the quantity has increased by roughly 33.33%. For example, if sales were 300 units last month and increased "by approximately a third" this month, then sales increased by about 100 units, resulting in 400 units.