diminished by a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "diminished by a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing a reduction in quantity, size, or value by one-third. Example: "The budget for the project was diminished by a third due to unforeseen expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Their population has diminished by a third since 1985.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In his reign, the UK became, for the first time, convincingly united: provincial loyalties and regional pride were diminished by a tighter national identity; national newspapers for the first time outsold locals.

The Guardian - Books

The unfortunate discovery the researchers made was that that aforementioned "buffer" completely diminished by eighth grade, a year in which there was no significant association between school type and body experience.

Huffington Post

The voices of members of the minority community would also be diminished by four-fifths.

The New York Times

Mayweather is still the greatest, and Álvarez is still a star, especially in Mexico (he comes from Jalisco), and one not much diminished by his first defeat, to one of the slickest boxers in the sport's history.

The New Yorker

Esthetically, the stunning look of the G5 was slightly diminished by the first ugly plastic cable we decided to plug into it.

Forbes

Despite the enhanced inflammatory response, chondrocyte death was diminished by two-thirds at days 3 and 7.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

20Holzer (2013) calculates that funding for most WIA programs has diminished by about three-fourths in real terms since 1980, and by much more relative to the size of the economy.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Whereas the regenerative index of NECs (percentage of nestin-positive cells that co-labelled with MCM2) in zone 1 diminished by approximately two-thirds from acute to chronic lesions, the regenerative index for GFAP diminished by less than a half (Fig. 3G).

European Journal of Neuroscience

With votes for both sides diminished by ballots cast for a third-party candidate and almost a third of the electorate abstaining, neither was able to gain the 40percentt required for a first-round victory.

The New York Times

First, the visual words that represent the background are diminished by using a robust Hausdorff distance between different images.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "diminished by a third", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced. Providing specific details enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "diminished by a third" loosely. Ensure that the reader understands the initial quantity or value from which the reduction is calculated. Failing to provide a clear reference point can lead to misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "diminished by a third" functions as a descriptive modifier, indicating the extent of reduction. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English to describe a reduction in quantity, size, or value.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "diminished by a third" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to denote a reduction by one-third. Ludwig confirms its appropriateness in describing decreases in size, quantity, or value. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in both news media and scientific contexts. Alternatives like "reduced by one third" or "decreased by a third" offer similar meanings. The key is to ensure clarity in specifying what exactly has been reduced to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduced by one third

Replaces "diminished" with "reduced", offering a more direct synonym with equivalent impact.

decreased by a third

Substitutes "diminished" with "decreased", maintaining the sense of lessening in quantity or value.

cut by a third

Uses "cut" for a more concise and somewhat less formal way to express the reduction.

shrunk by a third

Employs "shrunk" suggesting a physical decrease in size or scope.

lessened by a third

Replaces "diminished" with "lessened", implying a reduction in intensity or degree.

fallen by a third

Indicates a drop or decline by a third of the original amount.

contracted by a third

Suggests a reduction in size or extent, often used in economic contexts.

scaled down by a third

Implies a deliberate reduction in scale or size.

pared down by a third

Suggests a trimming or cutting back to reduce something by a third.

depleted by a third

Indicates a reduction due to consumption or usage, leaving less than before.

FAQs

What does "diminished by a third" mean?

The phrase "diminished by a third" means that something has been reduced in size, quantity, or value by one-third of its original amount.

What can I say instead of "diminished by a third"?

You can use alternatives like "reduced by one third", "decreased by a third", or "cut by a third" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "reduced by one-third" instead of "diminished by a third"?

Yes, "reduced by one-third" is a correct and commonly used alternative to "diminished by a third". Both phrases convey the same meaning.

How do I use "diminished by a third" in a sentence?

You can use "diminished by a third" in a sentence to describe a reduction. For example: "The budget for the project was diminished by a third."