Two Thirds Or Two Thirds

You lot tin employ "two-thirds" in all kinds of contexts when talking about fractions or parts of something. However, knowing how to write "two-thirds" tin can be tricky. Y'all might have seen both "two-tertiary" and "2-thirds." This article will explore the right class to utilize.

Ii-tertiary or Two-thirds?

"2-thirds" should e'er be written with an "s" at the end. This is done considering "thirds" should be kept in the plural form as it comes after the number "two." Yous would only write "third" when it comes later on the singular number "one" in fractional class.

To demonstrate, this is how it looks:

One-third
2-thirds
3-thirds
4-thirds

As long as the first number is greater than "one," yous should employ "thirds." "Third" only applies when the atypical form "one" is used.

This is standard pluralization in English. All common style guides (similar the AP Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Fashion) follow these pluralization rules. "1" keeps things singular. Any other number turns it into the plural form.

Google Ngram Viewer lists "two-thirds" every bit the just appropriate option of the two. The simply times "two-third" comes up in English is past error or typo, then you should avoid writing information technology.

Two-third

Yous should avert using "two-third" in all situations. Information technology does not brand grammatical sense considering information technology doesn't use "two" correctly in the fraction.

When a cardinal number besides "one" is used in a partial form, the number that comes after it must e'er exist in the plural course. This allows you to add an "s" to the end of the fraction to show that more one fraction applies.

These examples will help you understand how to write information technology correctly:

Correct: I will not share two-thirds of my fortune with them. They've but just come up back into my life. It'due south non worth it.
Incorrect: Two-third of the pie will have to practise right now. I don't know how I will split the residuum of information technology.
Correct: She gave me two-thirds of the final amount. That was style more than than I was expecting. I didn't know what to say.
Incorrect: They have a 2-third majority afterward we counted the votes. Hopefully, that'll continue through to ballot day.
Correct: What are we supposed to practise with simply two-thirds of the total corporeality? We don't take all of the money at our disposal.
Incorrect: That's a ii-3rd increase in profits. I'm so glad that you were able to go us this!

Ii-thirds

"Ii-thirds" is grammatically correct because information technology uses the plural form correctly. You should ever write "thirds" after any number at the start of a fraction likewise "one" as it shows there is more than "one" example of the fraction.

Technically, "two-thirds" is yet a singular course. Yous would say:

A ii-thirds stake in the business.

"A" only works for singular words. It can get a bit confusing when yous think about the fraction like this. The plural only occurs inside the fraction itself. Outside of the fraction, the atypical form still applies.

These examples will demonstrate how to use "two-thirds" in a judgement:

They have a two-thirds majority right now. I dubiety you'll find a meliorate candidate for the people than these two.
That's a two-thirds percentage, but it will not exist much help for us. We need to find a amend way to manage all of this.
What are you supposed to do with two-thirds of that corporeality? I'm not even sure if information technology'due south worth talking about.
Two-thirds of the pizza is still a lot of pizza! You should exist grateful that y'all're getting to have that much. I don't often share food.
She wanted to give me 2-thirds of the estate, but I was adamant virtually getting the total amount. I'grand taking no less than that.
Did you always effigy out what two-thirds of 26 is? I don't know how to distribute all of these files evenly.

2 thirds or Two-thirds?

"Two-thirds" doesn't always demand the hyphen betwixt the numbers. Information technology'due south common to remove it when "two thirds" is used as an adjective without directly attribution to some other noun.

If a substantive comes directly later on "two-thirds," you should hyphenate it. If the noun comes elsewhere in the sentence, you tin choose to exit the hyphen out (though the hyphen is however adequate).

AP Style suggests hyphenating multiple words when they modify the aforementioned noun. That'south why the hyphen is seen in "two-thirds" for phrases similar "ii-thirds bulk" and "ii-thirds sum." The nouns come direct after "two-thirds."

However, if the noun comes elsewhere in the sentence, the hyphen isn't always required. Here are some examples showing you how that might piece of work:

Ii thirds of the research were washed outside of the company. I'one thousand not sure if I tin can cope with that.
What is two thirds of thirteen? I need to include that when I answer these questions in the examination.
Two thirds isn't a lot to go on, is it? I feel like we need a little bit more if nosotros're going to get this right.

While it's acceptable to write "two thirds" without a hyphen, information technology's fairly uncommon.

Google Ngram Viewer shows that the hyphenated class is much more than popular than the unhyphenated one. Both are grammatically correct, but the hyphen is more natural, allowing native speakers to use it without worrying most grammatical errors.

The hyphen rules are true for UK and U.s. English speakers. You should stick to the hyphenated course if you're not sure because it will e'er be correct.

Tip to Remember the Divergence

Recall that "two" is a plural number. Information technology refers to two instances of a singular "3rd."

You lot tin can call up that "two-thirds" is written with "third" in the plural form because "two" is a plural number itself. Equally long as y'all pay attention to the number that comes before the fraction, you'll have a ameliorate understanding of the right style to write information technology.

Final Thoughts

"Two-thirds" is the only way to write the fractional class when you want to aspect information technology to a substantive. "Ii-third" should never be used because "thirds" must be written in the plural. "Two thirds" without the hyphen is acceptable, but it's non commonplace because the hyphen is simpler.