under a third

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under a third" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means less than one third and can be used to describe a portion or percentage that is smaller than one third of a whole. Example: "Under a third of the students in the class passed the exam." This means that less than one third of the students passed the exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's just under a third.

The Guardian

Today it is well under a third.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 1977, juries in England and Wales acquitted just under a third of defendants.

The Economist

Not quite - just under a third of people in the Cabinet are women.

Independent

The current obsession with public debt, under a third of the total, obscures this bigger picture.

Independent

Mobile now accounts for just under a third of advertising revenue.

The New York Times

Under a "third way" plan now being discussed at the college, the statue would be retained.

Independent

With capital increasing by just under a third, that might look like an acceptable trade-off.

The New York Times

That is well under a third of the price of comparable flash-memory cards.

The Economist

To date, under a third of 23,000 ballot boxes have been audited.

The Economist

By the 1960s they comprised just under a third of the world's population.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under a third", ensure the context clearly establishes what the whole or total is, so the proportion being described is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating what constitutes the whole. For instance, instead of saying "Under a third were happy", specify "Under a third of the surveyed customers were happy" to remove any uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under a third" functions as a quantifier, specifying that an amount is less than one third of a given total. It modifies nouns by providing information about their quantity, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "under a third" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that signifies a quantity less than one third. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and various examples illustrate its application across news, scientific, and business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly define the whole to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives exist, "under a third" provides a clear and concise way to express proportions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than thirty-three percent

Specifies the quantity with an exact percentage.

below one third

Uses a different preposition to indicate a quantity less than one third.

not a third

Emphasizes that the quantity does not reach a third.

smaller than one third

Uses a comparative adjective to express a smaller quantity.

a fraction less than a third

Highlights the portion as being just slightly less than a third.

scarcely a third

Implies that the quantity is only barely approaching a third.

just shy of a third

Indicates that the quantity is close to, but not quite, a third.

approaching a third

Signifies approaching the number but not quite reaching it.

nearly one third

Expresses a quantity slightly lower than one third.

a minority portion

Refers to a smaller segment or proportion of the total.

FAQs

How can I use "under a third" in a sentence?

You can use "under a third" to indicate a quantity or proportion that is less than one third of a whole. For example, "Under a third of the students passed the test."

What phrases are similar to "under a third"?

Similar phrases include "less than a third", "below a third", or "not a third" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "under a third"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that "under a third" is a valid phrase used to denote a quantity less than one third.

When is it appropriate to use "under a third"?

It's appropriate when you need to express a quantity that is smaller than one third of a total amount or group. This phrase is suitable for news, academic, and general contexts.