one-third of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one-third of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a fraction or portion of a whole, typically in mathematical or descriptive contexts. Example: "One-third of the participants completed the survey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Where is one-third of Joplin?

The New York Times

Forests cover about one-third of Albania.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One-third of Syrians are now displaced.

The New York Times

One-third of shark species are endangered.

The New Yorker

That's one-third of the work force.

The New York Times

Cut off about one-third of dough.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

China takes one third of Australian exports.

The Guardian - Opinion

One third of revenue from enforcement income?

The Guardian

One third of this is mountainous.

Pastoralism

Its size is one third of the CN HCCB-TBM.

Fusion Engineering and Design

Roughly one third of eyes remain blind after treatment.

Ophthalmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "one-third of", ensure the noun following "of" agrees in number with the intended meaning. Use a singular noun for a non-countable item (e.g., "one-third of the water") and a plural noun for countable items (e.g., "one-third of the students").

Common error

Avoid mismatching the noun after "of" with the intended quantity. For instance, it's incorrect to say "one-third of the student" when referring to multiple students; the correct form is "one-third of the students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one-third of" functions as a quantifier, specifically a fractional quantifier. It indicates a proportion of a whole. As shown by Ludwig, this proportion can apply to various countable and uncountable nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "one-third of" is a common and grammatically sound fractional phrase used to quantify portions. It appears across diverse contexts, especially news, science, and business, making it a versatile expression. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. When employing "one-third of", ensure noun agreement, using singular or plural nouns appropriately. For slight variations, consider “a third of” or “approximately 33%”. As evidenced by Ludwig, understanding and applying these insights guarantees clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a third of

Omits the "one-" prefix while retaining the same meaning; slightly less formal.

approximately 33%

Expresses the fraction as a percentage, offering a more numerical representation.

roughly a third

Adds an element of approximation, suggesting the proportion is not exact.

around 33 percent of

Combines approximation with a percentage representation.

one in three

Uses a ratio to express the proportion.

close to a third

Indicates the proportion is near but not exactly a third.

just under 35%

Offers a more precise range, implying a value slightly below 35 percent.

slightly over 30 percent

Suggests a value marginally exceeding 30 percent.

a considerable fraction

Replaces the specific fraction with a more general term for a notable portion.

a notable proportion

Similar to "a considerable fraction", indicating a significant but unspecified part.

FAQs

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

Use "one-third of" followed by a noun. Ensure the noun agrees in number: singular for non-countable nouns (e.g., "one-third of the pie") and plural for countable nouns (e.g., "one-third of the books").

What are some alternatives to saying "one-third of"?

You can use alternatives like "a third of", "approximately 33%", or "one in three" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "one-third of" and "a third of"?

The difference is negligible. "A third of" is slightly less formal than "one-third of", but they are generally interchangeable.

Which is correct: "one-third of the cake is" or "one-third of the cake are"?

The correct usage is "one-third of the cake is" because "cake" is a singular, non-countable noun. If the noun were plural (e.g., "one-third of the apples"), you would use "are".