just over a third

USAGE SUMMARY

"just over a third" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is slightly greater than one-third. For example, "Just over a third of the students in Mrs. Smith's class passed the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bulgaria is just over a third as big.

The Economist

Just over a third (37%) took the opposite view.

The Guardian

Just over a third said they would bring lunch instead of buying it.

The New York Times

Just over a third of the respondents couldn't think of anything worthy of praise.

Independent

Just over a third of them are under the age of 25.

Independent

Just over a third cited the economy, more than mentioned any other issue.

The New York Times

Ten years ago just over a third of the residents here were counted as Hispanic.

The New York Times

While research is widely funded, only just over a third of respondents fund innovation.

The Guardian

Like Gamble, just over a third of her clients are straight men.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There is just over a third of the country who think that Republicans are providing it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Today McKillen cuts an isolated figure, despite holding just over a third of Coroin's shares.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "just over a third", ensure the context clearly establishes what the third refers to. For example, "Just over a third of the budget was allocated to marketing."

Common error

Avoid using "just over a third" when greater accuracy is needed. If exact figures are available, state the precise percentage or fraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just over a third" functions as a quantifier, indicating a proportion slightly exceeding one-third. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage, and examples show its common use in describing data and statistics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just over a third" is a versatile phrase used to denote a quantity slightly greater than one-third. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, showcasing frequent use across diverse domains like news, science, and business. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's crucial to consider context. For situations demanding high precision, providing exact figures is advisable. When aiming for formal tone alternatives as slightly more than a third or approximately 35 percent could be used. In casual conversations is okay to use other option with a more relaxed style like a little over one third or around a third plus a bit but be aware that the context allows it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly more than a third

Uses 'slightly more' to emphasize the small degree by which the quantity exceeds a third.

a little over one third

Replaces "just" with "a little", maintaining the meaning with minimal change.

approximately 35 percent

Provides a numerical approximation of the fraction, giving a more precise value.

over thirty-three percent

Directly states the percentage that is just above the equivalent of one third.

somewhat more than a third

Substitutes "just" with "somewhat", indicating a slight increase above a third.

around a third plus a bit

Uses the informal "a bit" to indicate the slight excess over a third.

marginally above one third

Highlights the fact that the amount is only "marginally" larger than a third.

in excess of thirty percent

Formal phrasing to communicate a value greater than 30%, implying it's over a third.

a shade over thirty percent

The phrase "a shade over" implies a minimal increase, making it comparable.

thirty-something percent

Informally suggests a percentage in the thirties, conveying an approximate value slightly above a third.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "just over a third" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "slightly more than a third" or "approximately 35 percent". These options provide a more precise and professional feel.

What does "just over a third" mean?

The phrase "just over a third" indicates a quantity or proportion that is slightly greater than one-third of a whole. For example, if you have 9 items, "just over a third" would be slightly more than 3 items.

Is it appropriate to use "just over a third" in academic writing?

While acceptable, using "just over a third" might lack the precision often required in academic writing. Consider providing the exact percentage or a more specific fraction if the data is available.

Are there any informal alternatives to "just over a third"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "a little over one third" or "around a third plus a bit" for a more casual tone. However, be mindful of your audience and context.