one in ten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'one in ten' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You would use this phrase to express the idea that something is true for a small percentage of a group. For example: "One in ten people surveyed reported being unsatisfied with the customer service they received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Indeed, only one in ten Windows users is on Windows 8.x.

TechCrunch

One in ten marriages is now international.

The Economist

Atlético had lost just one in ten.

The Guardian - Sport

"Maybe one in ten worked out".

The Guardian

Today, fewer than one in ten do.

The New Yorker

Fifty years ago, it was fewer than one in ten.

The New Yorker

One in ten Mexican citizens lives in the United States.

The Economist

"One in ten people identify as being LGBT.

Independent

About one in ten serves up something memorable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

One in eight teens and one in ten men.

Independent

For M. tuberculosis, naturally occurring resistance to the most common drugs occurs at rates that range from one in ten million to one in ten billion.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one in ten", ensure the context clearly defines the population being referenced. For example, "One in ten adults" is more precise than simply "One in ten."

Common error

Avoid assuming causation from correlation when using "one in ten". Just because one in ten events lead to a specific outcome, it doesn't necessarily mean the event caused the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one in ten" functions as a quantifying adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a proportion. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It specifies that a single unit exists within a group of ten, as shown in examples like "One in ten marriages is now international."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

44%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one in ten" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that effectively conveys a small proportion or probability, according to Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and widely accepted across various domains including news, science, and general writing. The analysis indicates that this phrase serves to quantify and communicate frequency, while remaining neutral in tone. When using "one in ten", ensure clarity by specifying the group you are referring to, and avoid misinterpreting correlation as causation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ten percent

This alternative is a direct conversion of the fraction into a percentage.

a tenth

This alternative is a more concise way of expressing the same fraction.

one out of ten

This alternative emphasizes the selection process from a group of ten.

a small fraction

This alternative is less precise, indicating a small proportion without specifying the exact number.

a minority

This alternative highlights that the proportion is less than half.

infrequently

This alternative focuses on the rarity of an event or occurrence.

seldom

This alternative conveys that something doesn't happen very often.

rarely

This alternative suggests that the event is uncommon.

a limited number

This alternative expresses that the quantity is restricted.

a handful

This alternative implies a very small quantity or number.

FAQs

How do I use "one in ten" in a sentence?

Use "one in ten" to indicate that for every ten members of a group, one possesses a certain characteristic or experiences a particular outcome. For example, "One in ten students prefers to study at night."

What are some alternatives to saying "one in ten"?

You can use alternatives like "ten percent", "a tenth", or "one out of ten" to express the same proportion.

Is it better to say "one in ten" or "10 percent"?

Both "one in ten" and "10 percent" are correct and often interchangeable. "One in ten" is more common in informal contexts, while "10 percent" may be preferred in formal or statistical writing.

What does "one in ten" imply about probability?

"One in ten" implies a probability of 0.1 or 10%. It suggests a relatively low chance of a particular event occurring.