a greater proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A greater proportion of these go to urban areas.

The New York Times - Tech

But a greater proportion of those removed are criminals.

The Washington Post

It also allows a greater proportion of lesson time to be focused on learning.

The Guardian

But studies show that a greater proportion of people in debt will report mental health problems.

The Guardian

The Netherlands and Germany share a greater proportion of one-person households than the UK.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A greater proportion of the population will fall victim to heart disease or cancer.

The Guardian

Gradually, a greater proportion goes to pay off your mortgage, and the interest part shrinks.

The Guardian - Money

This would moderately erode earnings accretion potential and require issuance of a greater proportion of equity.

The Guardian - Business

The UK has a greater proportion of prisoners in private hands than anywhere in the world.

The Guardian

Second, a greater proportion of incidents reported to the police being recorded as crimes.

The Guardian

Until that happens, women will continue to bear a greater proportion of a family's domestic burden.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two groups, use "a greater proportion" to clearly indicate that one group has a higher representation relative to its total size than the other.

Common error

Avoid using "a greater proportion" when you actually mean "a greater number". "Proportion" refers to a relative amount out of a whole, not the absolute count. Ensure you are describing relative sizes and not just absolute counts, as using proportion suggests a percentage relationship. For instance, if City A has 1000 people with blue eyes out of 10,000 (10%), and City B has 500 blue-eyed people out of 2,000 (25%), City B has "a greater proportion" of blue-eyed people, even though City A has a greater number.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a greater proportion" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a particular part or amount is larger relative to the whole, compared to another part or amount. Ludwig AI confirms the proper use of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a greater proportion" is a versatile tool for comparing relative amounts or sizes across different groups. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It's crucial to differentiate between "a greater proportion" and "a greater number", as proportion relates to the part relative to the whole. Sources indicate that this phrase is frequently used in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, making it suitable for various writing styles. Related phrases include "a larger share" and "a higher percentage", offering flexibility in expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a larger share

Replaces "proportion" with "share", focusing on the division of something.

a higher percentage

Uses "percentage" to quantify the greater amount, making it more statistically focused.

a bigger fraction

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction", which implies a part of a whole.

a more significant part

Replaces "proportion" with "part", emphasizing the importance or impact of the increased amount.

a larger segment

Uses "segment" to suggest a distinct section or portion that is greater in size.

a majority

Implies more than half of the whole, indicating a dominant portion.

a greater amount

Focuses on the absolute quantity being larger, rather than its relation to a whole.

a substantial portion

Emphasizes that the proportion is considerable or noteworthy.

a notable fraction

Highlights the fraction as being significant or worthy of attention.

a considerable share

Indicates that the share is large enough to be important or impactful.

FAQs

How do I use "a greater proportion" in a sentence?

Use "a greater proportion" to compare relative sizes within different groups or samples. For instance, "A greater proportion of students in the advanced class passed the exam compared to the standard class."

What are some alternatives to "a greater proportion"?

You can use alternatives like "a larger share", "a higher percentage", or "a more significant part" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a greater proportion" and "a greater number"?

"A greater proportion" refers to a relative amount compared to the whole, while "a greater number" simply indicates a larger count. For example, one city might have a greater number of parks, but another might have "a larger proportion" of its area dedicated to parks.

Is it correct to say "a greater percentages" instead of "a greater proportion"?

No, "a greater percentages" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "a greater proportion" or, alternatively, "a higher percentage". "Proportion" is a more general term for relative size, while "percentage" is specifically a value out of 100.