a decent proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decent proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant or satisfactory amount of something in a particular context. Example: "A decent proportion of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Ouya's mission: to persuade a decent proportion of these people that they a).

The Guardian - Tech

Like a decent proportion of penalty kicks, it seems, they will be missed.

The Guardian - Sport

Nevertheless, a decent proportion of comments left on our politics articles come from those sympathetic to Ukip.

The Guardian

The incestuous element derives from the fact a decent proportion of R&A members will also be attached to Muirfield.

The Guardian - Sport

This opens the prospect of Reckitt losing not only the cash payers for Suboxone, but also a decent proportion of those on insurance plans as well.

The Guardian - Business

But a smart move would be for the BBC to ringfence a decent proportion of the £30m earmarked for BBC1 dramas for ones that appeal to BBC3 viewers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

We sent a decent proportion to Oxbridge, and I was one of them.

Independent

Ignoring MCODE, then COACH and DECAFF have both achieved decent proportions of their predicted complexes as significant.

BMC Genomics

But as Jeremy Hunt has pointed out, it does seem effortlessly able to attract – among the decent – a proportion of rum characters.

The Guardian

This was the least typical day of the 1998 World Cup finals, an event characterised not only by good humour in and around the stadiums but by the way the host nation kept a decent sense of proportion about the whole thing.

The Guardian - Sport

This would open up the prospect of delivering high-quality communities with, for example, a meaningful proportion of decent social and affordable housing and custom or self-build plots.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decent proportion of", ensure that the context clarifies what constitutes a 'decent' amount within that specific scenario. The interpretation can vary greatly depending on the subject matter.

Common error

Avoid assuming that 'decent' always implies the same numerical value. A "decent proportion of" students passing an exam might be 70% in one school but 90% in another, based on their performance standards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a quantity or share that is considered reasonably satisfactory or substantial. Ludwig AI shows that it is commonly used to describe quantities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

22%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decent proportion of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a reasonably satisfactory amount or share of something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in news and media, science, and general writing. The phrase conveys that the quantity is large enough to be noteworthy or acceptable. While Ludwig provides numerous examples, remember to be mindful of the context when assessing what constitutes a 'decent' amount. This will ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fair share of

Replaces 'decent proportion' with 'fair share', implying an equitable distribution.

a significant amount of

Substitutes 'decent proportion' with 'significant amount', emphasizing the quantity.

a considerable portion of

Uses 'considerable portion' instead of 'decent proportion', highlighting the substantial size.

a reasonable quantity of

Replaces 'proportion' with 'quantity', focusing on the measurable aspect.

a good fraction of

Employs 'fraction' instead of 'proportion', suggesting a part of a whole.

a substantial segment of

Changes 'proportion' to 'segment', referring to a specific part or section.

a noteworthy percentage of

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'percentage', indicating a numerical value.

a respectable quantity of

Replaces 'decent' with 'respectable', emphasizing the quality of the amount.

an appreciable quantity of

Replaces 'decent' with 'appreciable', suggesting that something is large enough to be noticed or considered important.

a satisfactory measure of

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'measure', indicating a standard or unit used for quantifying something.

FAQs

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

You can use "a decent proportion of" to indicate a reasonably large or satisfactory amount of something. For example, "A decent proportion of the survey respondents agreed with the proposed changes."

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

Alternatives include "a fair share of", "a significant amount of", or "a considerable portion of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "a significant proportion of" instead of "a decent proportion of"?

Yes, "a significant proportion of" is generally considered more formal than "a decent proportion of". The latter has a slightly more casual tone.

What does "decent" mean in the context of "a decent proportion of"?

In this context, "decent" implies that the proportion is adequate, respectable, or reasonably large – enough to be considered satisfactory or noteworthy.