cut down to a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cut down to a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to reducing something to one-third of its original size, amount, or value. Example: "We need to cut down the budget to a third to meet our financial goals for the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things look different from afar, and you suddenly realise how good a movie is that was totally disregarded in its time, such as Stroheim's slaughtered Greed, cut down to a fifth of its original length, or Tod Browning's famous horror show, Freaks.

The Guardian - Film

As a rainy morning gave way to a blue sky, he cut down to a two-thirds swing to control the ball better, then built some momentum with birdies on No. 16 and No. 1. "My game's probably not as good as I want it to be," he said.

Los Angeles Times

The film originally ran for 12 hours 40 minutes, but was cut down to around a third of that length as Out 1: Spectre (1973).

The Guardian - Film

When the platform speed cuts down to two-thirds as before, the azimuth bandwidth for the same resolution also cut down to two-thirds.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

During this simulation, the length of training sequences was cut down to one sixth of its original length.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

On the PS5 that load time will be cut down to 0.8 seconds, and that's quick!

BBC

Think about how much junk you're eating on a daily basis; if you eat 5 bars of chocolate a day, cut down to four the first day, then 3 the next, etc. then replace your unhealthy snacks with fruit!

WikiHow

The flight, which the Verge notes usually takes about nine and a half hours, is cut down to just 83 seconds.

Huffington Post

On a high-speed corporate line, that time can be cut down to just 20 seconds.

Forbes

It seems that if left to its own devices, the big-business free-market combine will be happy to cut us down to a third-world country.

The New York Times

Among the details in the new piece are the fact that Red Dead Redemption 2 had a 65 hour story campaign, recently cut down to 60 after editing out a second love interest for its lead, Arthur Morgan.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "cut down to a third", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced. For example, "We had to "cut down to a third" the original budget due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what is being reduced. Saying 'We need to "cut down to a third"' without specifying what 'we' refers to can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cut down to a third" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a reduction in quantity or size to one-third of the original amount. Ludwig AI shows examples where similar phrases are used to describe scaling down budgets, reducing emissions, or decreasing sizes.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Wiki

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Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cut down to a third" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English that denotes a reduction to one-third of an original amount. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, noting its application across various contexts. While not exceedingly common in the provided data, its meaning is clear, and it can be effectively used in both formal and informal communication. Alternatives like ""reduce to a third"" or "scale down to a third" can also be used depending on the specific context. Ensure clarity by specifying what is being reduced when using this phrase. Always ensure that clarity and precision are considered when quantifying reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce to a third

Replaces 'cut down' with 'reduce', maintaining the same quantitative meaning.

decrease to a third

Substitutes 'cut down' with 'decrease', emphasizing the reduction aspect.

lower to a third

Uses 'lower' instead of 'cut down', highlighting a lowering of quantity or value.

shrink to a third

Replaces 'cut down' with 'shrink', suggesting a reduction in size or scope.

scale down to a third

Uses 'scale down' instead of 'cut down', indicating a proportional reduction.

diminish to a third

Substitutes 'cut down' with 'diminish', which conveys a lessening or reduction.

pare down to a third

Uses 'pare down' to indicate a trimming or reducing to a third.

contract to a third

Replaces 'cut down' with 'contract', suggesting a reduction in size or extent.

trim down to a third

Uses 'trim down' instead of 'cut down', highlighting a slight or neat reduction.

bring down to a third

Replaces 'cut down' with 'bring down', indicating a downward adjustment.

FAQs

How can I use "cut down to a third" in a sentence?

You can use "cut down to a third" to describe reducing something to one-third of its original size, amount, or value. For example: "The company decided to "reduce to a third" its carbon emissions by 2030".

What are some alternatives to "cut down to a third"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""reduce to a third"", "decrease to a third", or "lower to a third", all indicating a decrease to one-third of the original amount.

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

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "cut down to a third" is more common. Using "one" instead of "a" doesn't change the meaning, but "a third" is generally preferred in most contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "scale down to a third" instead of "cut down to a third"?

"Scale down to a third" is suitable when you're referring to a proportional reduction. "Cut down to a third" is a more general phrase applicable in various reduction scenarios. Context is key to choosing the most fitting option.