more than third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more than third" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a quantity greater than one-third, but it lacks clarity and grammatical structure. Example: "More than third of the participants agreed with the proposal."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

However, daily and monthly user numbers have grown by more than third since December 2010.

The Guardian

More than third of its executions were carried out in the state of Texas.

The Guardian

Davor Suker has more than third place to play for today when Croatia meets the Netherlands.

The New York Times - Sports

The major advantage of MLP is to prevent oscillations across a multi-dimensional discontinuity, and it is readily compatible with more than third order spatial interpolation.

Journal of Computational Physics

"We want more than third and winning the FA Cup, we have the potential to do more," said Wenger when he explained to build on last season's result.

Independent

Because the maximum amount one wagers depends their current earnings, first place contestants typically wager more than those in second place, who tend to wager more than third place contestants.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The spokesman said: "This book amounts to no more than third-hand hearsay".

Independent

Far better to discover problems early with the I.R.S., whose say matters more than third-party software's best guess.

The New York Times

Far more than third-year quarterbacks trying to master the most idiosyncratic of football positions, Sanchez operates on the bigger fault line that Ryan has created for him.

The New York Times - Sports

"Supposing you're never anything more than third-rate, do you think it will have been worth while to give up everything?" he asks.

The New Yorker

They scored eighty-six goals­ — twenty more than runners-up Manchester City, and eleven more than third-place Chelsea — and conceded forty-three.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "more than third" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "greater than one third" or "over a third".

Common error

A common mistake is treating "third" as a regular noun that can be directly modified by "more than". Remember that "third" in this context is part of a fractional expression, and requires a more precise quantifier like "one-third" when expressing proportions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than third" functions as a quantifier, attempting to express a proportion greater than one-third. However, Ludwig AI analysis points out that it lacks grammatical correctness and clarity in standard English. Despite its usage in various contexts as seen in the examples, better alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "more than third" appears relatively frequently across diverse sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. To clearly express a quantity exceeding one-third, consider using alternatives like "greater than one third" or "over a third". As the examples show, the intended meaning is often clear from context, but grammatical precision is crucial for effective communication. The phrase is mostly used across "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia" so be careful when using it. For professional writing or formal contexts it's highly recommended to use better alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greater than one third

Replaces "more than third" with a grammatically correct and clearer expression of quantity.

over one third

Similar to "greater than one third", this provides a more standard and easily understood alternative.

exceeding a third

Uses a verb to indicate surpassing a specific proportion.

beyond one third

Emphasizes that the quantity is past the threshold of a third.

more than 33 percent

Expresses the quantity as a percentage for increased precision.

a significant portion

Replaces the specific fraction with a general term indicating a notable amount.

a considerable fraction

Emphasizes that the quantity constitutes a relatively large piece of the whole.

substantial proportion

Similar to 'considerable fraction', this term uses a formal tone to refer to a large amount.

a sizable amount

Provides a more vague indication that the quantity is large.

a large chunk

Conveys a sense of the quantity being a bulky or prominent piece.

FAQs

How can I correctly express a quantity larger than one third?

Instead of "more than third", use phrases such as "greater than one third" or "over one third". These alternatives are grammatically sound and clearly convey the intended meaning.

Is it ever acceptable to use the phrase "more than third"?

While occasionally encountered, "more than third" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to avoid it in formal writing and opt for more precise alternatives.

What's the difference between "more than third" and "greater than a third"?

"More than third" is grammatically awkward. A better way to say it is "greater than a third" or "more than one third". These alternatives clarify that you're referring to a quantity exceeding one-third of something.

What phrases can replace "more than third" to sound more professional?

For professional contexts, use "exceeding a third", "beyond one third", or express it as a percentage like "more than 33 percent" for greater clarity and precision.