sixth of all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sixth of all" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you are ranking or listing items, but it is more common to use "sixth overall" or "sixth in total." Example: "In the competition, she finished sixth of all the participants, which was an impressive achievement."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

In 2011 just 102 of the 8m digital musical tracks sold generated nearly a sixth of all sales.

The Economist

On the Isle of Wight, a sixth of all fatalities can be blamed on the toxoplasma parasite.

The Guardian

* Sometimes known as the Tropical Andes, the region contains roughly one sixth of all plant life in just 1 per cent of the world's terrestrial surface.

Independent

Education accounts for about a sixth of all government spending more than in Rwanda, say, which does much better in rankings.

The Economist

Despite a significant drop in the city's overall homicide rate, young Somali men accounted for a sixth of all murder victims in 2008.

The New Yorker

That army, the world's seventh-largest, bleeds the state of about a sixth of all public funds with almost no civilian oversight.All that is grim enough.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

City Point eventually received one-sixth of all the financing in the program.

The New York Times

About one-sixth of all patients were admitted to a Catholic hospital in 2010.

The New York Times

As now, it will then have roughly one-sixth of all humanity within its borders.

The Economist

They treat one-sixth of all hospital patients, and are sometimes the only hospital in a small community.

The New York Times

But that's easy to exaggerate, since only about one-sixth of all households own stocks whose value exceeds $7,000.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more precise language if the context allows. For example, instead of "sixth of all", you could say "approximately 17%" or "one in six" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the entire set being considered. Saying something like "a sixth of all were happy" is vague. Instead, clarify: "a sixth of all participants were happy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sixth of all" primarily functions as a quantifier, specifying a proportion or fraction of a whole. It modifies a noun phrase to indicate that the quantity being referred to represents one-sixth of the total. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sixth of all" is a quantifier used to express a proportion equivalent to one-sixth of a total. As shown by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news, scientific, and wiki contexts, functioning to provide a quantifiable measure or indicate a ranking within a group. While generally acceptable, the phrase benefits from clear specification of what "all" refers to, as specified by Ludwig. Alternatives include "one-sixth of the total" or "approximately one-sixth of the whole" for a more formal tone. Despite some ambiguity, its frequency and varied application make it a useful phrase, provided it's used with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one sixth of the total

Specifies "one sixth" as a portion of "the total".

approximately one-sixth of the whole

Adds "approximately" to indicate an estimate and uses "the whole" instead of "all".

a sixth part of everything

Uses "a sixth part" to mean one sixth and replaces "all" with "everything".

one-sixth portion of the aggregate

Replaces "of all" with "portion of the aggregate", using more formal vocabulary.

a sixth share of the entirety

Substitutes "share" for part, and "the entirety" for "all", creating a more formal tone.

sixth in total

Focuses on ranking rather than proportion.

sixth overall

Uses 'overall' to indicate general ranking.

number six out of all

Rephrases "sixth" as "number six", maintaining the ranking sense.

sixth among all

Uses the preposition "among" to indicate a position within a group.

a fraction of one sixth

Expresses the same idea using "fraction" to refer to one sixth.

FAQs

How can I use "sixth of all" in a sentence?

Use "sixth of all" to indicate a proportion or ranking. For example, "A "sixth of all" the students passed the exam" or "He finished "sixth of all" participants in the race".

What's a more formal way to say "sixth of all"?

For a more formal tone, consider "one-sixth of the total" or "approximately one-sixth of the whole". These options provide a similar meaning while sounding more sophisticated.

Is it better to use "sixth of all" or "one-sixth of"?

Both "sixth of all" and "one-sixth of" are acceptable, but "one-sixth of" is generally preferred for clarity and conciseness. Choose based on the specific context and desired level of formality.

How does "sixth of all" compare to saying "1/6 of all"?

"Sixth of all" is a verbal expression, while "1/6 of all" is a numerical one. Using "1/6 of all" can be more concise in technical or statistical contexts, while "sixth of all" may be preferred in general writing.