decrease by a third

USAGE SUMMARY

'decrease by a third' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to reducing something by 33%. For example, "The number of available jobs decreased by a third last year due to the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Comparison of regional estimates in control and future climate at the grid box scale reveals that return periods of 2- and 6-h events will approximately halve in future climate while they will decrease by a third for 12- and 24-h events.

Journal of Hydrology

For example, for incremental comparison B in Table  2 (1G + B c.f.1G) the cost of the intervention (first row) would decrease by a third or $3610, and the net incremental cost would therefore reduce by 40% from $8,996 to $5390.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For each following age group, this would decrease by a fifth.

Vice

Globally, child malnutrition rates have decreased by a third since 1990, the charity's data shows.

The Guardian

But as fires increased by more than half, the number of firefighters decreased by a third.

The New York Times

The number of new titles introduced in the home and home service category decreased by a third, from 53 in 2000 to 37 in 2001.

The New York Times

From 1994 to 2001, the duration of rehabilitation stays for stroke survivors decreased by a third, and Joel Stein, chief medical officer of Boston's Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, says this trend continues.

MIT Technology Review

Meanwhile the proportion of infants born weighing more than 4,500g - known as macrosomia - decreased by a third.

Independent

He looked at North Carolina and California in the US and also Canada, where similar laws were introduced, "Since such laws were introduced, reporting has increased by 50% and incidents of violence have decreased by a third," he said.

The Guardian

His results were not as striking as Dr. Waddell's: patients who took sulindac had 44percentt fewer polyps after a year and the diameters of their polyps had decreased by a third.

The New York Times - Science

Over six in ten children use a tablet at home, up 50% on 2013, while the number of children with TV sets in their bedrooms has decreased by a third in five years.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about statistical data, use "decrease by a third" to clearly indicate a 33.33% reduction. Ensure your audience understands this fraction for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid assuming "decrease by a third" means a small or insignificant change. A reduction of this magnitude can be substantial, depending on the initial value and context. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease by a third" functions as a quantitative descriptor, specifying the extent of reduction in a particular value or quantity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a standard and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decrease by a third" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate a reduction of 33.33%. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to provide a clear, quantitative description of a decline. The phrase appears across various contexts, from scientific reports and news articles to business documents. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the audience understands the fractional value and to provide adequate context to avoid misinterpretations. Alternative phrasings include "fall by a third" or expressing the value as "reduced by approximately 33%". Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fall by a third

Replaces 'decrease' with 'fall', emphasizing the action of declining.

Reduction by a third

Nominalizes the phrase, focusing on the amount of reduction rather than the act of reducing.

Decline by a third

Uses 'decline' as a synonym for 'decrease', offering a slightly more formal tone.

Reduced by approximately 33%

Replaces the fraction with a percentage, providing a more precise value.

Diminished by a third

Employs 'diminished', suggesting a gradual reduction in size or importance.

Shrank by a third

Uses 'shrank' to convey a contraction or reduction in physical size or scope.

Contracted by a third

Implies a squeezing or compression leading to a smaller size or volume.

Experienced a 33% drop

Focuses on the 'drop' as the key event, highlighting the suddenness of the decrease.

Lessened by a third

Suggests a weakening or reduction in intensity or severity.

Saw a 33% downturn

Highlights the negative trend or decline in a particular area.

FAQs

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

You can use "decrease by a third" to describe a reduction. For example, "Due to the new policy, the number of accidents "decreased by a third"".

What is an alternative to "decrease by a third"?

Alternatives include "fall by a third", "reduction by a third", or expressing the change as a percentage, such as "reduced by approximately 33%".

Is it more effective to say "decrease by a third" or "decrease by 33.33%"?

While "decrease by a third" is generally understood, using "decrease by 33.33%" provides a more precise and statistically accurate description, especially in technical contexts.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "decrease by a third"?

The phrase "decrease by a third" is suitable for describing changes in various contexts, including economics, statistics, and general reporting, where a clear indication of reduction is needed. Just make sure the audience understands the ratio.