slightly over a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly over a third" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a quantity that is just more than one-third of a whole, often in contexts involving statistics or measurements. Example: "In the survey, slightly over a third of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Slightly over a third of Americans belong to minority groups.

The Guardian - Opinion

OUTDOOR SPACE: The lot is slightly over a third of an acre, with a landscaped Japanese garden, a pergola and a picnic area.

The New York Times

Fully half of smartphone users visit a store within a day of their search (on PCs and tablets, it's slightly over a third).

The Guardian

Finally, slightly over a third of the participants use English at work (36%).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

A 2014 survey by home-solar power provider Lumeta found that slightly under a third of respondents considered appearance very or extremely important, while slightly over a third said the look was slightly important or not important at all.

Los Angeles Times

Slightly over a third had mild dyskaryosis at recruitment; of these, 8% had had previous cytology showing borderline nuclear abnormalities.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

However, in all cases Hagring [42] observed that the values of critical headways resulted stable, from a minimum value of 3.68 s to a maximum of 4.68 s, with a spread of slightly over a second for the various lanes and circulating flow combinations.

European Transport Research Review

The 10 works in his solid if slightly over-hung first show mix these elements in different ways, which is promising.

The New York Times - Arts

Slightly over one third of the respondents (36%) had a professional nursing experience of between 21 and 30 years.

Human Resources for Health

Each year, about 11,000 Americans die in vehicles that roll over, slightly more than a fourth of traffic deaths.

The New York Times

Slightly over one third of all students responded correctly to the definition of evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, consider using the numerical equivalent (approximately 35%) alongside "slightly over a third" for added precision.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly over a third" when the actual proportion is significantly higher. 'Slightly' implies a small margin above one-third; if the proportion is closer to half, use a more appropriate descriptor like "nearly half" or "almost 50%".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly over a third" functions as a quantitative adjective phrase, modifying a noun by specifying an approximate proportion or quantity. Ludwig examples showcase its use in statistical reporting and general descriptions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly over a third" is a versatile quantitative phrase used to indicate a proportion that is a bit more than one-third. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for a variety of contexts, including news, science, and business. While precise, it's important to ensure that its approximate nature is appropriate for the context. Alternatives such as "a little more than a third" or "approximately 35%" can offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little more than a third

This alternative uses more descriptive language, replacing "slightly over" with "a little more than".

just above a third

This alternative uses "just above" to convey a similar meaning of being slightly more than a third.

marginally more than a third

This alternative uses "marginally" to emphasize a small difference.

somewhat over a third

This alternative replaces "slightly" with "somewhat", indicating a moderate degree.

fractionally above a third

This alternative uses "fractionally" to denote a small and imprecise amount.

a shade over a third

This alternative is more informal, using "a shade" to indicate a slight increase.

in excess of a third

This alternative uses "in excess of" to mean slightly more than.

a bit over a third

This is a more informal alternative to "slightly over a third".

approximately thirty-five percent

This alternative converts the fraction to a percentage, offering a numerical approximation.

around thirty-six percent

Expresses the quantity as a percentage, implying an approximate value.

FAQs

What does "slightly over a third" mean?

The phrase "slightly over a third" indicates a quantity or proportion that is a little more than one-third (33.33%) of a whole. It implies that the amount exceeds one-third by a small margin.

How can I use "slightly over a third" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly over a third" to describe proportions or quantities. For example: "Slightly over a third of the participants agreed with the statement."

What are some alternatives to "slightly over a third"?

Alternatives to "slightly over a third" include "a little more than a third", "just above a third", or "approximately thirty-five percent".

Is it more precise to use a percentage instead of "slightly over a third"?

Using a percentage, like "35%", can be more precise than saying "slightly over a third". However, the phrase provides a general estimate, which might be suitable depending on the context. Always consider the audience and the level of precision required.