a good proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant or considerable part of a whole, often in discussions about statistics, demographics, or quantities. Example: "A good proportion of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the service provided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, a good proportion of the artists warrant attention.

The New York Times

A good proportion of these women are mothers.

The Guardian

But then a good proportion of drivers speed or are distracted by phones.

The Guardian

For a good proportion of the game there were only two Frenchmen on the pitch.

The Guardian - Sport

With the increased number of games shown, a good proportion of them are unattractive.

The Guardian - Sport

And a good proportion of the jokes in oral circulation involve sex or scatology.

The New Yorker

(2) The city and its hinterland will provide a good proportion of food needs.

Britannica

This suggests that a good proportion of modern mothers experience their normal infants as "problem" children.

The Guardian

The school apparently couldn't meet the needs of a good proportion of its original students.

The New York Times

Those efforts will take care of a good proportion of the holidaymakers.

Independent

Stranger still, this view seems to be shared by a good proportion of business leaders.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "a good proportion of" with specific data or comparative metrics. For instance, instead of saying "A good proportion of students passed", specify "A good proportion of students (75%) passed".

Common error

Avoid using "a good proportion of" without providing context or a reference point. The term 'good' is subjective; readers need additional information to understand the significance of the proportion being described. Be precise and quantify whenever possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically indicating a noteworthy, though not necessarily majority, quantity or segment. It modifies a noun to suggest that a considerable part of it possesses a certain attribute or is involved in an activity, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

9%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Sport

4%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a good proportion of" is a versatile way to indicate a substantial segment or quantity, widely used across diverse contexts, especially in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct, "good" is subjective and requires contextual clarity, quantify with specific metrics to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "a significant portion of" or "a large percentage of" can provide more formality or precision. While common and generally appropriate, its effectiveness hinges on providing sufficient context for the reader to understand the scale and relevance of the proportion being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant portion of

Replaces 'good' with 'significant', emphasizing the importance or impact of the quantity.

a considerable number of

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'number', suitable when referring to countable items.

a large percentage of

Uses 'percentage' to specify the quantity in terms of a part of 100, often used with numerical data.

a substantial amount of

Emphasizes the amount as being noteworthy in size or quantity.

a fair share of

Indicates an equitable or reasonable amount, often in the context of distribution.

a sizable fraction of

Replaces 'proportion' with 'fraction', typically referring to a part of a whole.

a notable segment of

Uses 'segment' to describe a distinct part or group within a larger whole.

a healthy chunk of

Employs 'chunk' to denote a significant and often desirable part.

a respectable quantity of

Highlights the quantity as being worthy of respect or admiration.

a decent measure of

Uses 'measure' to indicate a sufficient or acceptable amount.

FAQs

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

Use "a good proportion of" to indicate that a noteworthy part of a group or quantity possesses a certain characteristic or is involved in something. Example: "A good proportion of the survey respondents indicated satisfaction with the product."

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

Consider using phrases like "a significant portion of", "a considerable amount of", or "a large percentage of" depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it more appropriate to use "a good proportion of" or "a large proportion of"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a large proportion of" might be preferred in more formal contexts. "A good proportion of" is slightly more conversational.

How does "a good proportion of" differ from "most of"?

"A good proportion of" suggests a notable quantity that is less than the majority. "Most of" indicates that more than half of the group or quantity is being referred to, implying a greater share than "a good proportion of".