less than one third

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'less than one third' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe an amount that is smaller than one third of a total amount. For example, "Less than one third of the participants were female."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Less than one third of headache sufferers in our sample had consulted physicians for their headaches.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Yet less than one third receive mental health services.

Huffington Post

- Across key environmental fora, less than one third of decision makers are women.

Huffington Post

And they have less than one third of the daily cholesterol limit for healthy people.

Huffington Post

Less than one third of facilities reported having any quality assurance systems.

BMC Health Services Research

Less than one third (n = 11/42) of infants with an Hb <9gm/dl received folate.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Less than one-third of practices compiled evaluative data on these services.

Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (1996)

Less than one-third will be claimed.

The New Yorker

Normally, less than one-third of the pups would die.

Independent

Less than one-third of the labour force is unionized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rembrandt paid less than one-third of the full price.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than one third", ensure that the context clearly defines what the 'whole' or 'total' is that you are referring to. For example: "Less than one third of the students passed the exam."

Common error

Avoid using "less than one third" when a precise percentage is known. If the actual value is known (e.g., 25%), using that exact percentage is more informative than the approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than one third" functions as a quantifier or determiner, specifying that an amount is smaller than a specific fraction of a whole. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than one third" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a quantity is smaller than approximately 33.33% of a whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable in written English across many contexts, it is particularly frequent in scientific and news-related domains. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the 'whole' being referenced and consider using a more precise percentage if available. Alternatives such as "under a third" can provide similar meaning with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under a third

This alternative uses simpler wording to convey the same meaning.

below one third

This alternative phrase replaces "less than" with "below" maintaining the same proportional context.

not up to a third

This alternative emphasizes that the amount does not reach the threshold of one third.

fewer than thirty-three percent

This alternative provides a more precise numerical approximation.

a minority of approximately 30%

This alternative uses the term 'minority' to convey small portion with an estimation of the percentage .

smaller than a third

This variant emphasizes the size of the quantity compared to a third.

a fraction less than a third

This wording highlights that it's a portion of something less than the specified amount.

in a small minority

Focus shifts to the context of small proportion among a larger sample size.

hardly a third

This version emphasizes the smallness of the quantity in an emphatic manner.

scarcely a third

Emphasizes the limited nature of the amount relative to one third.

FAQs

How do I use "less than one third" in a sentence?

Use "less than one third" to indicate a quantity or proportion that is smaller than 33.33% of a whole. For example, "Less than one third of the population voted in the election."

What are some alternatives to saying "less than one third"?

Alternatives include "under a third", "below one third", or "not up to a third". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "less than one third" or to use a percentage?

If you know the precise percentage, it's generally more accurate to use it. "Less than one third" is useful when you need to convey an approximate proportion without precise data.

What's the difference between "less than one third" and "more than one third"?

"Less than one third" indicates a quantity smaller than approximately 33.33%, while "more than one third" indicates a quantity larger than that. For example, "More than one third of the students passed the test implies a higher passing rate than "less than one third of the students".