slightly less than a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly less than a third" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to describe a figure or amount that is slightly lower than one-third. For example, "I had slightly less than a third of the funds I needed to cover the cost of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Slightly less than a third reported being allowed to drink unsupervised.

The New York Times

Today, Kashmir is partitioned Pakistan controls slightly less than a third, India some sixty per cent, and China the rest.

The New Yorker

Owner-occupied housing units make up slightly less than a third of all housing units in New York City.

The New York Times

Today, Kashmir is partitioned — Pakistan controls slightly less than a third, India some sixty per cent, and China the rest.

The New Yorker

At the Metropolitan the endowment, one of the largest in the country for a museum, pays for slightly less than a third of the $220 million operating budget.

The New York Times - Arts

Those 10 metropolitan statistical areas, out of more than 900 recognized by the United States Census Bureau, contain a quarter of the nation's population and took in slightly less than a third of the country's income in 2005.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The optimisation results indicate that a three-layered lining system can achieve results comparable with quality wedge-type anechoic linings with overall thickness slightly less than a sixth of a wavelength at the 100 Hz cut-off frequency.

Applied Acoustics

More than a quarter were on medication (e.g., Ritalin) for behavior; and slightly less than a tenth was receiving psychiatric care.

BMC Pediatrics

As yet, the compromises seem small, particularly when measured against the challenge — sparing the United States the fate of becoming a slightly less-than-first-world country.

The New York Times

If you use slightly less than two thirds a glass of champagne, then you should get approximately five cocktails from one standard champagne bottle.

WikiHow

The United States made a significant contribution to the world cardiovascular research literature, publishing slightly less than one third of all cardiovascular research articles over the study period.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slightly less than a third", ensure the context provides a clear reference for what the fraction is being applied to. For instance, "Slightly less than a third of the budget was allocated to marketing."

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader knows the total or baseline from which the "slightly less than a third" is derived. Always provide context to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly less than a third" functions as a quantifier or determiner, modifying a noun or noun phrase to indicate an approximate amount or proportion. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is a correct way to express that a value is a bit smaller than one third.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly less than a third" is a grammatically sound and commonly used quantifier, employed to indicate an approximate value that is a little below one-third of a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Usage is prevalent across news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources. When writing, ensure clarity by providing context for the baseline value being referenced. While alternatives like "just under a third" or "nearly a third" exist, this phrase offers a balanced level of precision and accessibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just under a third

Emphasizes the proximity to one-third while still being less.

a bit less than a third

Uses more informal language to indicate a slightly smaller quantity.

marginally less than a third

Highlights the small difference from one-third.

fractionally less than a third

Indicates a very small difference from one-third.

nearly a third

Focuses on the closeness to the one-third mark.

almost a third

Similar to 'nearly a third', emphasizing proximity.

close to a third

Indicates approximation to one-third.

not quite a third

Explicitly states the quantity does not reach one-third.

somewhat below a third

Uses 'somewhat' to describe the extent of being less than one-third.

in the neighborhood of thirty percent

Uses a percentage approximation instead of a fraction.

FAQs

How do I use "slightly less than a third" in a sentence?

Use "slightly less than a third" to describe a quantity that is a bit smaller than one-third of a whole. For example, "Slightly less than a third of the students passed the exam on their first attempt."

What's a more formal alternative to "slightly less than a third"?

A more formal alternative could be "marginally below one-third" or "a proportion just under one-third". These phrases maintain precision while sounding more academic or professional.

Is it correct to say "slightly fewer than a third"?

Yes, "slightly fewer than a third" is grammatically correct and often used when referring to countable items. It's a suitable alternative to "slightly less than a third".

What's the difference between "nearly a third" and "slightly less than a third"?

"Nearly a third" implies approaching one-third, whereas "slightly less than a third" specifically indicates a quantity that is below but close to that fraction. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.