By proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

"by proportion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a comparison of two measurements, such that one is a larger or smaller proportion of the other. For example, "The number of seals observed on the beach has decreased by a proportion of 77% since last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By proportion and by cultural authority and impact, it may well be tiny Nuuk that is the most indigenous city in the world.

The Guardian

By proportion of the population, Northern Ireland has the highest level of people earning wages beneath the living wage level, closely followed by Wales (23 per cent).

Independent

By proportion, Scottish fatal accident rates are, on average, 50% more than the rest of Britain; and major accident rates 15% more.

Safety Science

By proportion, the United States would have to accept over three million refugees to rise to that standard (larger than the City of Chicago or approximately the size of the Denver metro area).

Huffington Post

By proportion, there were marginally more adverse events of any cause in the pyronaridine artesunate group than in the chloroquine group (Table 3).

Plosone

14 Republican, allotted by proportion of vote, unless majority, then winner take all.

The New York Times

It is a paradox: democracy is suggested by proportion and poise rather than by the clamor of need or desire, as a resolution rather than a competition.

The New York Times - Arts

The biggest employer of foreign workers in the Gulf by sheer numbers (though not by proportion) is Saudi Arabia.

The Economist

Coupled with a system that rewards budget over-spending with added funding, it's no small wonder that China's healthcare managers face an uphill struggle that makes the UK's NHS problems seem miniscule by proportion.

The Guardian

Tony Blair wanted the UK to match the western European average of spending by proportion of GDP, and under Gordon Brown we spent 9.4% in 2010, the highest ever, but this fell to 9.1% under Cameron in 2011 and 2013.

The Guardian

Christians in Lebanon, representing the largest minority by proportion in the Arab world, worry about their own future, in a country where they emerged as the distinct losers of a 15-year civil war.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by proportion", ensure you are clearly comparing two quantities or sets of data. Specify what the proportion relates to for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "by proportion" without clearly defining the total or base from which the proportion is calculated. Always provide context to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

By proportion functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a relationship or ratio between quantities. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, highlighting comparisons and distributions based on relative amounts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

By proportion is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express a relationship between quantities, indicating a comparison based on their relative sizes. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse domains, including science, news, and formal business settings. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying the total or base for accurate comparison. Related phrases include "proportionally", "in proportion", and "relative to", offering alternative ways to convey similar meanings depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportionally

This is a single-word adverb form of the phrase.

in proportion

This is a variation with slightly different word order.

relative to

This alternative highlights the comparative nature of the measurement.

in terms of percentage

This specifies that the proportion is being expressed as a percentage.

as a percentage of

This clarifies that the proportion is calculated from a whole.

in relation to

This emphasizes the connection or ratio between two quantities.

compared to

This alternative directly points out the comparative aspect.

by percentage

A shorter, slightly less formal version of expressing proportion.

on a proportional basis

This conveys the idea of applying a proportional calculation.

considering the ratio

This highlights the importance of the ratio in the comparison.

FAQs

How can I use "by proportion" in a sentence?

Use "by proportion" to indicate a relationship between two quantities, often expressing one as a fraction of the other. For instance, "The budget allocated to marketing increased "in proportion" to the company's revenue growth".

What's a good alternative to using "by proportion"?

Alternatives include "proportionally", "relative to", or ""in proportion"", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "by proportion" or "proportionally"?

Both are correct, but "proportionally" is a single-word adverb, while "by proportion" is a prepositional phrase. The choice depends on sentence structure and desired emphasis.

What does it mean to allocate resources "by proportion"?

To allocate resources "by proportion" means to distribute them based on a specific ratio or percentage. For example, funding might be allocated proportionally to each department based on its contribution to overall company profit.