a great proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a great proportion of' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a large amount or share of something. For example, "A great proportion of my time is devoted to volunteering."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Certainly Chávez has redirected a great proportion of revenue into projects that help the majority.

The Guardian - Opinion

A great proportion of drivers (36%) failed to yield to pedestrians at marked crossings.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Therefore, spatial relationships are central to architecture, especially residential architecture that addresses a great proportion of an individual׳s daily life.

Frontiers of Architectural Research

The Treasury green book describes an ideological shift, pledging "major reform … to shift a great proportion of the funding from the taxpayer to the individuals who benefit".

The Guardian - Opinion

Thus, while 447,000 may have applied to work in the UK since May 2004, a great proportion of these will already have gone home.

The Guardian - Opinion

They add: "A few species commanded a great proportion of scientific attention, whereas for many species, information that might inform conservation is virtually non-existent".

The Guardian

Few players with such an extensive career, furthermore, can have scored such a great proportion of their runs under a single captain.

The Guardian - Sport

The results indicate that a great proportion of the soils classified as non-eroded in 1956 were strongly eroded in 2015.

Geoderma Regional

First, a great proportion of suburban residents work in city centers, especially those relocated from the city centers.

Urban Rail Transit

A great proportion of the variability remains unexplained, and other factors may help improve the prediction of logging damage.

Carbon Balance and Management

A great proportion of inertia is expected to be decoupled to the system frequency in future power systems.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a great proportion of" when you want to emphasize that a substantial part of something is being considered. Ensure the noun following "of" agrees in number (plural if countable, singular if uncountable).

Common error

Avoid using "a great proportion of" with uncountable nouns when "amount" or "quantity" would be more appropriate. For example, instead of "a great proportion of water", consider using "a significant amount of water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier, indicating a significant portion or share of something. It is typically followed by a noun phrase, specifying what is being quantified. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a standard grammatical construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great proportion of" is a versatile phrase used to denote a substantial part or share of something. Grammatically correct and widely applicable, it's commonly found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, as validated by Ludwig AI. While alternatives like "a major portion of" or "a significant amount of" exist, the phrase maintains its relevance across different writing styles. Be mindful of using it appropriately with countable and uncountable nouns to ensure clarity. Ultimately, mastering the use of "a great proportion of" enhances precision and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major portion of

Replaces "great" with "major", indicating significance but with slightly different emphasis.

a significant fraction of

Uses "significant fraction" to emphasize that the proportion is noteworthy.

a large segment of

Substitutes "proportion" with "segment", focusing on a distinct part of a whole.

a considerable amount of

Shifts from proportion to amount, suitable for uncountable nouns.

a substantial quantity of

Similar to "a considerable amount of", but emphasizes the measurable aspect.

a notable percentage of

Replaces the qualitative "great proportion" with the quantitative "notable percentage".

a high volume of

Emphasizes the quantity involved, implying a large number or amount.

a sizable chunk of

Informal alternative, replacing "proportion" with "chunk" for a more colloquial tone.

a good deal of

A more informal expression that still indicates a large quantity or share.

a dominant share of

Focuses on the idea that the proportion is not only large but also controlling or influential.

FAQs

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

Use "a great proportion of" to indicate that a large part of a whole is being discussed. For example, "A great proportion of students attend the lecture." or "A great proportion of the budget is allocated to research."

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

Alternatives include phrases like "a major part of", "a significant amount of", or "a substantial portion of", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "a great proportion of the people" or "a great proportion of the population"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "a great proportion of the population" is generally preferred in more formal contexts as it refers to a defined group. "A great proportion of the people" is acceptable but can sound less precise.

What's the difference between "a large proportion of" and "a great proportion of"?

The difference is subtle; both indicate a significant amount. "A great proportion of" might suggest a slightly larger quantity or a more emphatic degree than "a large proportion of", but they are largely interchangeable.