one out of three

USAGE SUMMARY

'one out of three' is a grammatically correct expression that can be used in written English.
This expression can be used to describe the ratio between one element and a group of three elements, emphasizing that the one element is a part of the group. For example, "I got one out of three questions correct on the test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

One out of three kids loved it.

The New Yorker

One out of three ain't bad.

The New York Times

Who would want to choose only one out of three matches as entertaining as these?

The Guardian - Sport

The feature extractors use one out of three feature types.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

One out of three Arabs lives in Egypt.

Forbes

One out of three is the game of life.

BBC

Ooishi et al. [9] described an extensor lag of 30° in one out of three patients.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

In terms of car ownership, one out of three households does not have a car [61].

European Transport Research Review

The data are a representation of one out of three independent experiments showing similar results.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

In one out of three weekly training sessions, interval training will be in focus.

Injury Epidemiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Then its one out of three thousand.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one out of three" in writing, ensure the context clearly defines the group of three to which you're referring. For example, "One out of three students failed the exam", is much clearer than "One out of three failed."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying what constitutes the "three". For example, instead of saying, "We tried three times, and one out of three was successful", specify if you mean one out of three attempts, or one out of three different strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one out of three" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a proportion or ratio. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts. It modifies nouns by specifying a quantity relative to a group of three.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "one out of three" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a proportion where one element is present for every three. Ludwig AI supports this, showcasing its versatility across different domains like News & Media and Science. While inherently neutral in register, clarity is crucial when specifying what constitutes the 'three'. Alternatives like "one in three" or "a third of" can be used interchangeably to express the same meaning. Remember to define the group you're referencing clearly to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one in three

Uses "in" instead of "out of", a more concise way to express the same ratio.

one out of every three

Adds emphasis using "every", specifying each group of three.

a third of

Expresses the same proportion as a fraction.

approximately 33%

Converts the fraction to a percentage, providing a numerical representation.

one third

Similar to "a third of", but used as a standalone noun.

one amongst three

Uses "amongst" to indicate the selection from a group.

a proportion of one to three

Formally states the ratio of the proportion.

for every three, one

Rephrases to highlight the 'one' within a set of 'three'.

in a group of three, one

Emphasizes the group size and the presence of one specific element.

a single instance in three

Highlights the singleness of an occurrence within three instances.

FAQs

How can I use "one out of three" in a sentence?

The phrase "one out of three" is used to express a proportion or ratio. For example, "One out of three applicants was selected for the interview" indicates that for every three applicants, only one was chosen.

What phrases are similar to "one out of three"?

Similar phrases include "one in three", "a third of", or "approximately 33%", all expressing roughly the same proportion.

Is it more appropriate to use "one in three" or "one out of three"?

Both "one in three" and "one out of three" are grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference, as their meanings are virtually identical.

Can I use "one out of three" to describe probabilities?

Yes, "one out of three" can describe a probability. For instance, saying "There's one out of three chance of rain" indicates a roughly 33% probability of rain.