a decent fraction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decent fraction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant portion or amount of something, often in a quantitative context. Example: "A decent fraction of the participants reported an increase in satisfaction after the changes were implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"There's no realistic chance of getting even a decent fraction of what Sanders has asked for.

The New Yorker

"The study reveals that a decent fraction of charter schools, 17percentt, provide superior education opportunities for their students," the report says.

The New York Times

A decent fraction of our employees no longer use the VPN, and by the end of next year, none of them will use it for our internal applications.

Forbes

But insurers priced their policies for 2018 on the assumption that a decent fraction of insureds would consist of reasonably healthy people.

Forbes

If the Supreme Court rules that subsidies to the fallback exchange are illegal, then a decent fraction of those 6 million people may choose to go uninsured.

Forbes

We hypothesised that a decent fraction of the artificial 2 kb input fragments could not be extended by the assembler due to repetitive motives at one (resulting in the 3.7 and 5.4 kb peaks) or both ends (2 kb peak).

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For less than the price of a decent pair of shoes (and a fraction of the cost of a pair of Manolo Blahniks), she arrives at the end of each month around 8 p.m. and leaves an hour and a half later as I glide blissfully up to bed.

HuffPost

It is a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a part of a much deeper truth.

Vice

What is a decent standard of living?

The Economist

A decent accuracy of approximately ±1.4 °C has been achieved over 45 100 °C.

Measurement

I give him a decent chance of a surprise win.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a decent fraction of" to convey that a portion is noteworthy but not necessarily the majority. It suggests a quantity that is more than just minimal.

Common error

Avoid using "a decent fraction of" when you mean to indicate a very small or negligible part. It's best suited for portions that are substantial enough to matter.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent fraction of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a portion of a whole. It modifies a noun and indicates a significant, though not necessarily major, part. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a decent fraction of" correctly conveys a noteworthy portion or quantity. It's most often found in news and scientific contexts, indicating a significant but not necessarily majority share. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness. When writing, ensure that you're referring to a portion large enough to be considered substantial, and consider related phrases like "a considerable portion of" or "a significant segment of" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable portion of

Replaces 'decent' with 'considerable', emphasizing a large amount.

a significant segment of

Uses 'segment' instead of 'fraction', highlighting a part of a whole.

a notable percentage of

Replaces 'fraction' with 'percentage', quantifying the portion.

a good proportion of

Substitutes 'decent fraction' with 'good proportion', indicating a fair share.

a substantial amount of

Emphasizes the quantity using 'substantial amount' instead of 'fraction'.

a fair number of

Replaces 'fraction' with 'number', focusing on a countable quantity.

a respectable quantity of

Uses 'respectable' to suggest the amount is noteworthy.

a healthy chunk of

Replaces 'fraction' with 'chunk', indicating a sizable part.

an appreciable quantity of

Uses 'appreciable' to highlight the perceived value or significance of that portion.

a reasonable share of

Substitutes 'fraction' with 'share' and uses 'reasonable' highlighting a just part.

FAQs

How can I use "a decent fraction of" in a sentence?

Use "a decent fraction of" to indicate that a noteworthy portion of something is being considered. For instance, "A decent fraction of the students passed the exam" suggests that a good number, though not necessarily the majority, were successful.

What are some alternatives to "a decent fraction of"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable portion of", "a significant segment of", or "a notable percentage of" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "a decent fraction of" or "a majority of"?

"A decent fraction of" is suitable when you want to highlight a portion that is significant but not necessarily over 50%. "A majority of" should be used when more than half is meant.

Can "a decent fraction of" be used for both countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "a decent fraction of" can be used with both. For countable nouns, it implies a number of items, such as "a decent fraction of the books". For uncountable nouns, it refers to a quantity, such as "a decent fraction of the water".