over two thirds

USAGE SUMMARY

'over two thirds' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the majority of something is greater than two thirds. For example, "Over two thirds of the students in the class voted in favor of the proposal".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Over two thirds of farm bill funding goes towards nutrition programming, particularly for food insecure families.

Cornell University

D_SALISBURY: Over two thirds.

Forbes

Over two thirds (67%) of the respondents were male.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

After all, consumption comprises over two thirds of GDP.

BBC

With over two thirds of Earth covered by ocean, we truly live on a blue planet.

Duke University

3Bohning (1984) estimates that over two thirds of these workers returned.

IZA Journal of Migration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

These companies conduct over two-thirds of their business and employ over two-thirds of their workforce outside France.

The Economist

Polar conditions settled over two-thirds of the US.

The Guardian

This rate rises to over two-thirds (67percentt) for unmarried mothers with a young child.

University of California, Berkeley

The six factors accounted for over two-thirds of variance in the measure (67.63%).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Over two-thirds of American families have two parents in the paid labor force.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over two thirds", ensure the context clearly defines what the proportion refers to. For example, "Over two thirds of the budget was allocated to research" is more precise than "Over two thirds was allocated."

Common error

Avoid confusing "over two thirds" with simpler fractions like one half or one third. Always ensure the context accurately reflects that the proportion exceeds 66.66%.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over two thirds" functions as a quantifier, specifying a proportion greater than 66.66%. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct. It's commonly used to describe proportions, as seen in the examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over two thirds" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a quantity exceeding 66.66% of a whole. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its prevalence across diverse fields, including science, news, academia, and formal business, confirms its broad applicability. When using "over two thirds", ensure clarity and precision by specifying what the proportion refers to. Remember that while percentages offer greater exactness, "over two thirds" provides a suitable approximate proportion in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more than two thirds

Replaces "over" with "more than", slightly emphasizing the exceeding nature of the proportion.

greater than two thirds

Substitutes "over" with "greater than", offering a more formal and direct comparison.

above two thirds

Replaces "over" with "above", providing a slightly less common but still understandable alternative.

exceeding sixty-six percent

Provides a more precise numerical representation using percentage, replacing the fraction with a concrete value.

in excess of two thirds

Replaces "over" with "in excess of", adding a sense of surplus or abundance.

beyond two thirds

Replaces "over" with "beyond", suggesting a surpassing or transcendence of the specified fraction.

a majority exceeding sixty-six percent

Combines "majority" with a specific percentage, emphasizing both the majority aspect and the proportion.

sixty-seven percent or more

Offers a simplified numerical expression, focusing on the percentage threshold.

approximately 70 percent

Uses "approximately" to convey a sense of estimation or rounding around the numerical equivalent of the fraction.

a significant portion, more than sixty-six percent

Introduces "significant portion" to indicate importance, followed by the specific exceeding percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "over two thirds" in a sentence?

You can use "over two thirds" to indicate that a quantity is greater than 66.66% of a whole. For instance, "Over two thirds of the students passed the exam".

What are some alternatives to saying "over two thirds"?

You can use phrases like "more than two thirds", "exceeding sixty-six percent", or "greater than two thirds" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it more accurate to say "over two thirds" or "more than two thirds"?

Both "over two thirds" and "more than two thirds" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference, but in formal writing, "more than two thirds" might be preferred.

When should I use a percentage instead of "over two thirds"?

Using a percentage (e.g., "67%") can provide greater precision than saying "over two thirds". If exactness is crucial, a percentage is often better. However, "over two thirds" can be suitable when an approximate proportion is sufficient.