so over a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so over a third" is not standard or commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to express a quantity or proportion, but it lacks clarity and context for proper usage. Example: "The project is so over a third complete, indicating significant progress."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When this change was made, together with all the other changes, it resulted in an increase in the relative prevalence of bulimia nervosa and corresponding drop in the prevalence of eating disorder NOS but even so over a third of the patients retained the diagnosis eating disorder NOS.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Of the 2m council properties sold so far, over a third have ended up with private landlords who charge high rents.

The Guardian - Opinion

So over a sweltering Fourth of July weekend, my husband and I hauled out the stones and tilled the rock-hard soil.

Huffington Post

Another is the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which has cost taxpayers over $100 billion so far; a third is the Federal Reserve's purchase of mortgage securities ($1.25 trillion).

Forbes

Looks like Amazon is unloading some first-generation refurbished Kindles at $299, a so-so savings over a new second generation unit at $360.

TechCrunch

Most deaths are still in children, but a fifth are among those aged 15 to 49, 9% are among 50- to 69-year-olds and 6% are in people over 70, so a third of all deaths are in adults.

The Guardian

When "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" came out, Norman Mailer said, "What I can't get over is that so good a first novel was written by the fuzz".

The New Yorker

Because the choice for Britain's grumpy, increasingly fragmented, electorate is no longer between the two main parties, but also between them and the half dozen insurgents the UK Independence Party, the Greens, the Scottish nationalists and so forth who have grabbed just over a third of the vote.

The Economist

It became an immediate success as a result of such encomia as Ross Macdonald calling it "the most powerful and frightening crime novel I have read this year", and Norman Mailer opining: "What dialogue… What I can't get over is that so good a first novel was written by the fuzz".

The Guardian - Film

So it's a little over a third of the cost of the Carmichael project, is expected to yield half as much, and be around for half as long.

Vice

So far, Silver Mountain Corporation has sold just over a third of the first 49 home sites for sale at its new golf course-centered Galena Ridge development west of town.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating proportions slightly above a third, use phrases like "just over a third" or "a little over a third" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using non-idiomatic expressions like "so over a third". Instead, opt for direct and easily understood alternatives like "more than a third" or "over one-third".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so over a third" attempts to function as a quantifier, indicating a proportion slightly exceeding one-third. However, its construction is unconventional and lacks established grammatical support. As Ludwig AI states, it is not a standard phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "so over a third" is not considered grammatically correct or standard English. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's better to use more conventional alternatives like "more than a third" or "over one-third" for clarity and accuracy. While there are some examples of its usage in news and media, its frequency is rare, and it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Remember to choose clearer and more established phrases to express proportions slightly exceeding one-third.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

More than a third

Replaces "so over" with "more than" for a clearer expression of quantity.

Over one-third

Replaces "so over a third" with the more conventional "over one-third".

Slightly more than a third

Adds "slightly" to indicate a small margin above one-third.

A little over a third

Uses "a little" instead of "so" to soften the amount exceeding a third.

Just over a third

Emphasizes the amount as barely exceeding one-third.

In excess of a third

Employs a more formal tone while conveying the same meaning.

Beyond a third

Uses "beyond" to indicate exceeding the one-third mark.

Greater than a third

Replaces "so over" with "greater than" for direct comparison.

Exceeding a third

Uses a verb form to express surpassing one-third.

A substantial portion, more than a third

Breaks the expression into two parts, emphasizing the significance of the amount exceeding a third.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives such as "more than a third", "over one-third", or "just over a third" depending on the context.

Is "so over a third" grammatically correct?

No, "so over a third" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like "more than a third" or "over one-third".

How can I use "more than a third" in a sentence?

You can use "more than a third" in a sentence like this: "More than a third of the students passed the exam."

What's the difference between "over a third" and "more than a third"?

While both phrases are similar, "more than a third" directly indicates a quantity exceeding a third, whereas "over one-third" is a more common and slightly more formal way of expressing the same idea.