a big proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant part or share of a whole in various contexts, such as statistics or demographics. Example: "A big proportion of the population supports the new policy, indicating a strong consensus among citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And a big proportion of them are women.

The New York Times

For many private schools costly fees make up a big proportion of their income.

The Guardian

Also, a big proportion of the squad are on their first trip to the northern hemisphere.

Independent

A big proportion of the company's clothes are made in India, which has become the world's capital of child labour.

The Economist

It is likely that such taxpayers also pay a big proportion of stamp duty, capital-gains tax and inheritance tax.

The Economist

The average English constituency contains 70,000 people.And old media take up a big proportion of people's leisure time.

The Economist

For a big proportion of my career (I'm currently finishing my sixth album), physical sales have been in decline while streaming plays have grown exponentially.

The Guardian - Music

She based her calculations on the cost of food, which, at the time, made up a big proportion of household budgets.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

As investors have fled these funds, those losses have become a bigger proportion of remaining assets.

The New York Times

But with real wages stagnating, deposits are making up a bigger proportion of buyers' incomes.

The Guardian - Business

The figures also showed women made up a bigger proportion of the civil service than men overall.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a big proportion of", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of the whole being referred to. For instance, specify "a big proportion of the budget" rather than just "a big proportion".

Common error

Avoid using "a big proportion of" without specifying what the proportion relates to. Saying "a big proportion is affected" lacks clarity; instead, state "a big proportion of the population is affected by the policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase indicating a significant quantity or share of something. It modifies a noun, specifying that a considerable part of it is being referred to, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples where it's used to describe shares of populations, budgets, or other quantifiable entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big proportion of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a noteworthy share or quantity. Ludwig's analysis confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business publications. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the proportion refers to, and consider related alternatives like "a large fraction of" or "a significant percentage of" for nuanced expression. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s a solid choice for expressing a considerable part of a whole.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A large fraction of

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", emphasizing the part-to-whole relationship.

A significant percentage of

Uses "percentage" to specify the amount as a portion of 100, adding a quantitative feel.

A considerable segment of

Replaces "proportion" with "segment", focusing on a distinct part of a larger group.

A notable portion of

Emphasizes that the proportion is worthy of attention or is significant.

A substantial amount of

Shifts the focus to the quantity, using "amount" instead of "proportion".

A major share of

Uses "share" to highlight the part owned or contributed, changing the emphasis.

A good deal of

Offers a less formal way to express a large quantity or proportion.

The bulk of

Emphasizes that the majority or largest part is being referenced.

Most of

Provides a simpler, more direct way to indicate that a majority is involved.

A sizable chunk of

Uses "chunk" to refer to a significant piece or portion, implying a tangible part.

FAQs

How can I use "a big proportion of" in a sentence?

Use "a big proportion of" to indicate a significant portion or share of something. For example, "A big proportion of the students passed the exam" shows that many students succeeded.

What can I say instead of "a big proportion of"?

You can use alternatives like "a large fraction of", "a significant percentage of", or "a substantial amount of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a big proportion of the people" or "a large amount of the people"?

While both convey a similar meaning, "a big proportion of the people" is generally more appropriate when referring to countable entities like people. "A large amount of" is better suited for non-countable nouns.

What's the difference between "a big proportion of" and "most of"?

"A big proportion of" suggests a sizable but not necessarily majority portion, whereas "most of" typically implies a majority or the largest part.