represent about a third of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "represent about a third of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing proportions or statistics to indicate that a certain quantity makes up approximately one-third of a whole. Example: "The survey results indicate that the respondents represent about a third of the total population."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Vitrue was headquartered in Atlanta, which bills itself as "the city too busy to hate". African Americans represent about a third of the population of the city, yet were under-represented at Vitrue, particularly in management.

Forbes

These represent about a third of total U.S. corporate profits.

The Washington Post

The three big companies, which represent about a third of world capacity, lost millions of dollars.

The New York Times

The 900 dealerships represent about a third of the company's total sales outlets in the United States, Ford said.

The New York Times

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they represent about a third of the 41 players named Ryan who have played in the majors at any time.

The New York Times

The 300 renovated buildings represent about a third of the structures in the 1.5-square-mile center marked by the old city walls.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The first documents, representing about a sixth of the total archive, are now available at Kew, with Badger promising that very few have been redacted, usually to conceal the identities of informants.

The Guardian

By 5pm around 100 routes were back in service, representing about an eighth of the network.

The Guardian

The 9.6 million people represent about a sixth of England's population.

The Guardian

These loans now represent about a fifth of the cajas' assets, according to Santiago López Díaz, an analyst at Credit Suisse.

The Economist

Alex Bax, the chief executive, says women represent about a fifth of Pathway's clients and are "often the most unwell and in an extremely poor position".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "represent about a third of" when you want to convey an approximate proportion. If precision is required, use percentages or fractions instead.

Common error

Avoid using "represent about a third of" when you have precise data available. If you know the exact percentage, use it instead to avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "represent about a third of" functions as a descriptive quantifier. It specifies the proportion or share that a particular element constitutes within a larger whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically sound. It is commonly used to provide an estimation, especially when exact figures are not necessary or available.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "represent about a third of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something constitutes approximately one-third of a whole. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. It is best used when an approximate proportion is sufficient, rather than when precise figures are necessary. For situations requiring more accuracy, alternatives like "constitute roughly thirty percent of" or "make up approximately a third of" may be more appropriate. The phrase's neutral register makes it versatile for different audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make up approximately a third of

Focuses on the formation of a whole by a specific part.

are almost a third of

Simplifies the expression to indicate nearness to a third.

form nearly a third of

Suggests a slight underestimation of the proportion.

account for around one third of

Highlights the responsibility or explanation of a portion.

constitute roughly thirty percent of

Emphasizes the composition of a whole in percentage terms, slightly more precise.

comprise close to thirty-three percent of

Uses a more formal tone and specifies the percentage.

equate to roughly a third of

Indicates an equivalent value or amount.

reflect approximately thirty-three percent of

Highlights the reflection or indication of a proportion.

approximate to one-third of

Uses a more technical or mathematical tone.

are in the vicinity of thirty percent of

Indicates an approximate range around thirty percent.

FAQs

What does "represent about a third of" mean?

The phrase "represent about a third of" means that something constitutes approximately 33.3% of a larger whole. It's used to indicate a rough proportion, not an exact figure.

How can I use "represent about a third of" in a sentence?

You can use "represent about a third of" to describe proportions. For instance, "Renewable energy sources "account for around one third of" the country's total energy consumption."

What are some alternatives to "represent about a third of"?

Some alternatives include "constitute roughly thirty percent of", "make up approximately a third of", or "account for around one third of".

Is it better to say "represent about a third of" or provide the exact percentage?

If you have precise data, it's generally better to provide the exact percentage. However, if you only have an estimate or want to simplify the information, "represent about a third of" is appropriate.