one-third

USAGE SUMMARY

"one-third" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to a portion or amount that is equal to one out of three parts. For example: "The recipe called for one-third of a cup of sugar."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

It is on average one-third slower.

The Economist

Over one-third are disabled.

The New York Times

About one-third of it.

The New York Times

One-third had special needs.

The New York Times - Sports

Turnout rarely exceeds one-third.

The Economist

One-third would be Hall of Famers.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

"We have a rule: one third, one third, one third.

The Guardian - Tech

One third recover fully.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fold one third in.

The Guardian

(One third was undecided).

Huffington Post

One third were children.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about statistics or data, use "one-third" for clarity. It's more precise than vague terms like "some" or "a few".

Common error

Avoid mixing "one-third" with imprecise percentage estimations. If precision is needed, use "33.3%" instead or vice versa.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one-third" primarily functions as a fractional adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a proportion or part of a whole. As Ludwig AI states, it refers to a portion or amount equal to one out of three parts. The examples show it describing quantities, proportions, and divisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one-third" is a fractional adjective used to describe a quantity equivalent to one part of three. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and frequently used term in written English. Examples show that it is common in various contexts, from news and media to scientific reports and formal business documents. When writing, it's best practice to use "one-third" for clarity when precision is required. Be mindful of using consistent language (fraction vs percentage), and if precision is needed you may prefer to use decimals (33.3%) to avoid ambiguity. The related phrases can provide alternative ways to express the same quantity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a third

Shorter version using indefinite article.

approximately 33 percent

Expresses "one-third" as a percentage.

roughly a third

Adds an element of approximation.

close to a third

Indicates an amount near but not exactly "one-third".

a portion of one-third

Specifies "one-third" as a portion.

a fraction of one-third

Specifies "one-third" as a fraction.

a part equaling one-third

More descriptive and formal way to express "one-third".

in the vicinity of one-third

Emphasizes that the amount is near "one-third".

a third of the total

Highlights that "one-third" is related to a total amount.

one part in three

Describes "one-third" in terms of its constituent parts.

FAQs

How do I use "one-third" in a sentence?

You can use "one-third" to describe a proportion, such as "one-third of the population" or "one-third of the budget".

What can I say instead of "one-third"?

Alternatives include "a third", "approximately 33 percent", or "roughly a third" depending on the desired level of precision.

Is "one-third" a fraction or a percentage?

"One-third" is primarily a fraction, representing 1/3. It can be expressed as the percentage 33.3%.

When should I use "one-third" instead of "33%"?

Use "one-third" when you want to emphasize the fractional representation or avoid the need for precise decimal places. "33%" is suitable when you need a more compact percentage representation. Depending on the specific case it may be appropriate to use "approximately 33 percent" or "roughly a third".