two out of three

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'two out of three' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate a ratio or amount, such as 'only two out of three people have expressed their opinion'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe two out of three isn't bad.

The New York Times - Arts

We've been doing two out of three.

The New York Times - Sports

Two out of three branches isn't bad.

The New Yorker

Two out of three are gone now.

The Guardian - Arts

So two out of three isn't bad".

The New York Times

"We won two out of three here.

The New York Times - Sports

She won two out of three bouts.

The New Yorker

But two out of three will do.

The Guardian - Opinion

Settle for two out of three.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Well, two out of three isn't bad".

The New York Times

I'm already two out of three".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "two out of three" to clearly express proportions when you have a specific set of three items or possibilities. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "two out of three" when the base is not explicitly three. For instance, don't say "two out of three reasons" if you only list two reasons in total; use "both reasons" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two out of three" functions as a quantitative expression, specifying a proportion or ratio. It modifies nouns or pronouns, indicating that a particular attribute or action applies to a defined fraction. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "two out of three" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a proportion, as verified by Ludwig AI. It is versatile enough to be used in various contexts, from formal business reports and scientific publications to everyday conversations and news articles. While alternatives like "two-thirds" or "approximately 67 percent" may be suitable in certain situations, "two out of three" offers clarity, especially when emphasizing a specific set of three. Remember to use it when the base is explicitly three to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around two-thirds

Uses a less formal way to express the same proportion.

two in every three

Changes the wording to emphasize the distribution across a group.

approximately 67 percent

Replaces the fractional expression with a percentage, providing a more precise quantitative feel.

66 percent approximately

Switches the order of the percentage and the approximation, slightly modifying the emphasis.

a majority of cases

Indicates that more than half of the cases apply, but without the same precision.

in the majority

Indicates that something occurs more often than not, lacking numerical precision.

the greater part

Implies that something represents a large portion, but not necessarily exactly two-thirds.

more often than not

Suggests that an event is more likely to happen than not, but does not quantify this likelihood.

a significant portion

Highlights that something makes up a notable part of the whole, but without the specific fraction.

most of the time

Implies a high frequency without specifying the exact proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "two out of three" in a sentence?

Use "two out of three" to indicate that a proportion of something applies, such as "Two out of three students passed the exam" or "The team won "two out of three" games".

What does "two out of three ain't bad" mean?

This idiom, popularized by Meat Loaf's song, suggests that achieving a majority or a good portion of something is acceptable, even if not everything is perfect. It's often used to downplay a minor failure or imperfection.

Is it better to say "two-thirds" or "two out of three"?

Both are correct, but "two-thirds" is more concise and often preferred in formal writing, while "two out of three" can be clearer in contexts where the total number is being emphasized.

What are some alternatives to saying "two out of three"?

Depending on the context, you could use "approximately 67 percent", "around two-thirds", or "a majority of cases" to convey a similar meaning.