one-third of them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one-third of them" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a specific portion or fraction of a group or quantity. Example: "After the survey, we found that one-third of them preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

One-third of them are expected to die on the waiting list.

Los Angeles Times

One-third of them described their success as certain.

Harvard University

Nearly one-third of them are overweight or obese.

The Economist

Only one-third of them had registered to vote.

The Economist

Approximately one-third of them are over age 50.

The New York Times

Suzlon has built about one-third of them.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

One third of them had a growth rate of ≥ 2 SDS on GH treatment.

BMC Pediatrics

One third of them suspect that they have been already been infiltrated.

MIT Technology Review

More than one third of them were in Anne Arundel County.

The Washington Post

Pronunciations for around one third of them were obtained from CMUdict.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Although nearly all rural households used leaves and twigs as a fuel, only one third of them preferred this fuel.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one-third of them" when you want to be specific about the proportion, ensuring clarity and precision in your writing. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid mixing fraction representations within the same context. For example, if you've already established using percentages, stick with percentages instead of switching to "one-third of them" mid-paragraph. Consistency improves readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one-third of them" functions as a quantitative expression. Ludwig shows it specifies a fraction of a previously mentioned group, indicating that roughly 33.3% of that group possesses a certain attribute or is involved in a specific action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "one-third of them" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote a proportion within a group. As Ludwig confirms, it functions as a quantitative descriptor, conveying that approximately 33.3% of a specified group shares a particular characteristic. It's versatile, fitting comfortably in news, scientific articles, and business communications. To maintain consistency, avoid interchanging fraction representations mid-text. For slight variations in tone or emphasis, alternatives include "a third of them" or "one in three of them".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a third of them

Omits the "one-" prefix, making it slightly less formal.

33 percent of them

Expresses the fraction as a percentage, providing a more precise numerical value.

approximately one-third of them

Adds a qualifier to indicate an estimate rather than an exact fraction.

roughly a third of them

Similar to 'approximately', but uses 'roughly' for a more casual tone.

one in three of them

Rephrases the fraction in terms of individual odds within the group.

a portion of them

Uses a more general term to indicate a part of the group without specifying the exact fraction.

some of them

Even more general, indicating that at least a few members of the group are being referenced.

part of them

Similar to "some of them" but implies a smaller amount.

a fraction of them

Highlights that a unspecified fraction of the group/quantity is being considered.

a minority of them

Implying that the proportion is less than half, without specifying the exact amount.

FAQs

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

Use "one-third of them" to specify that a particular attribute or action applies to approximately 33.3% of a defined group. Example: "Among the applicants, "one-third of them" had prior experience."

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

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

Is it grammatically correct to say "one-third of them is"?

No, it should be "one-third of them are" because "them" is plural. The verb should agree with the plural pronoun.

What's the difference between "one-third of them" and "one in three of them"?

"One-third of them" refers to a proportion of a group, while "one in three of them" emphasizes individual odds within that group. They are often interchangeable, but the nuance differs slightly.