two-thirds

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "two-thirds" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as an adjective to denote that something is made up of two parts out of three. It can be used whenever the ratio of two parts out of three is relevant to the context. Example sentence: The members of the team voted two-thirds in favor of the proposal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That's two-thirds of the third quarter.

Forbes

Two-thirds were speculators.

The New Yorker

About two-thirds answered correctly.

The Economist

At P369K, two-thirds qualify.

The New York Times

Two-thirds are now idle.

The Economist

Two-thirds are foreign-born.

The New York Times - Sports

Two-thirds enrolled in hospice.

The New Yorker

Some experts say two-thirds.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Follow a two-thirds-one-third rule.

WikiHow

It required two thirds.

The New York Times

But two thirds of what?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two-thirds", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes the whole being divided.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the total quantity or group from which the "two-thirds" is derived. For instance, instead of saying "Two-thirds were in favor", specify "Two-thirds of the voters were in favor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two-thirds" primarily functions as a fractional adjective, describing a quantity or proportion. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it modifies nouns, indicating that something is composed of two parts out of three. It can also be used as a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two-thirds" is a grammatically sound and commonly used fractional adjective for expressing a proportion. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" writing, it serves to quantify proportions and provide specific numerical descriptions. Ensure clarity by explicitly stating the base from which the "two-thirds" is derived. Alternatives include "approximately two-thirds" or "the majority", depending on the required precision. The phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

66.67 percent

Expresses the same proportion as a percentage.

a good two-thirds

Adds emphasis to the proportion, indicating it's a notable amount.

approximately two-thirds

Indicates an estimate close to two-thirds.

nearly two-thirds

Suggests a value very close to, but slightly less than, "two-thirds".

almost two-thirds

Implies a value slightly less than two-thirds.

in the neighborhood of two-thirds

Indicates an approximate value that is close to two thirds.

the majority

While not precise, it suggests more than half, often implying a significant portion similar to two-thirds.

a significant portion

Denotes a considerable part, which "two-thirds" often represents.

a large fraction

Indicates a considerable part of the whole, similar to the meaning of "two-thirds".

substantially more than half

Conveys that the quantity exceeds half, approaching "two-thirds".

FAQs

How do I correctly use "two-thirds" in a sentence?

"Two-thirds" functions as an adjective, so ensure it modifies a noun. For example, "Two-thirds of the students passed the exam." It can also stand alone as a noun as in "The winner got roughly "two-thirds"".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "two-thirds"?

Depending on the level of precision needed, you can use alternatives such as "approximately two-thirds", "almost two-thirds", or, if less precision is acceptable, "the majority".

Is it better to write "two-thirds" or "2/3"?

In formal writing, it's generally preferred to spell out "two-thirds". Using "2/3" is acceptable in informal contexts or when space is limited, such as in tables or graphs.

What's the difference between "two-thirds" and "a third"?

"Two-thirds" represents a larger portion (approximately 66.67%) of a whole compared to "a third" (approximately 33.33%). They describe different fractions of a whole.