a greater fraction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a greater fraction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing proportions or parts of a whole, indicating that one part is larger than another. Example: "In the recent survey, a greater fraction of participants preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Less people are coming across," said Bruce Anderson, the chief forensic anthropologist at the medical examiner's office, "but a greater fraction of them are dying".

The New York Times

Efforts are growing in the meantime to recycle a greater fraction of the estimated 300 million tires that domestic drivers discard each year.

The New York Times

Claudia Goldin contends ("Working It Out," Op-Ed, March 15) that news reports are wrong, and "the truth is that a greater fraction of college women today are mixing family life and career than ever before".

The New York Times

Consumers will have more reasons to watch entertainment from sources other than their cable or satellite company, potentially motivating a greater fraction of them to cancel those monthly subscriptions.

The New York Times

Decrease in length, and increase in slope, lead to a greater fraction of subsurface runoff.

Ecological Modelling

Net biome production decreased as a greater fraction of the forest landscape consisted of recently disturbed forests.

Carbon Balance and Management

Carbon from the aboveground DOM pool was considered to have a greater fraction of labile C exported as DOC.

Carbon Balance and Management

Africa constitutes a greater fraction of the 800 million people who currently live on less than $1.25 a day.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

We found that a greater fraction of the light was reflected and traveled back to the left inside the nanowire.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A greater fraction of farmers perceived rainfall increases in Marlborough, where irrigation growth has been most substantial.

Global Environmental Change

A greater fraction of a plume was captured inside the wake as the plume became increasingly buoyant.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two or more groups, use "a greater fraction" to clearly indicate which group has a larger proportion of a specific characteristic.

Common error

Ensure you are comparing fractions of the same whole. Applying "a greater fraction" across different bases can lead to misleading conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a greater fraction" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and indicates a larger proportion of something compared to something else. Examples in Ludwig show it being used in scientific and news contexts to highlight comparative quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a greater fraction" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a larger proportion or share. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and widespread use, particularly within scientific and news contexts. When writing, use "a greater fraction" to compare proportions accurately, ensuring that the base is consistent across comparisons. While alternatives like "a larger proportion" or "a higher percentage" exist, "a greater fraction" offers a clear and precise way to convey comparative quantities in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a larger proportion

Replaces "fraction" with "proportion", emphasizing the relative size of a part compared to the whole.

a higher percentage

Uses "percentage" instead of "fraction", quantifying the proportion with a specific numerical value.

a bigger share

Substitutes "fraction" with "share", highlighting the portion allocated to a specific entity.

a more significant part

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the portion being referred to.

a larger segment

Replaces "fraction" with "segment", implying a distinct section or division.

a greater amount

Focuses on the quantity rather than the proportion, suitable when the absolute size is more relevant.

a more substantial portion

Highlights the considerable size and impact of the portion.

a major part

Emphasizes the dominance or significance of the portion within the whole.

a considerable segment

Indicates that the segment is noteworthy or of considerable size.

a dominant portion

Stresses that the portion is prevalent or exerts significant influence.

FAQs

How can I use "a greater fraction" in a sentence?

Use "a greater fraction" to show that one group or portion has a larger share compared to another. For example, "A greater fraction of students preferred the new curriculum."

What phrases are similar to "a greater fraction"?

Alternatives include "a larger proportion", "a higher percentage", or "a bigger share", each emphasizing a larger part of a whole.

Is it correct to say "a great fraction" instead of "a greater fraction"?

While "a great fraction" is understandable, "a greater fraction" is more precise when you intend to compare two or more fractions and indicate which one is larger. "Great" typically implies a large size in absolute terms, rather than a comparative relationship.

What's the difference between "a greater fraction" and "a majority"?

"A greater fraction" indicates a larger proportion compared to something else, while "a majority" means more than half of the total. "A majority" implies a specific threshold (over 50%), while "a greater fraction" only implies a relative comparison.