a hefty part of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hefty part of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or substantial portion of something, often in a context where the size or importance of that portion is being emphasized. Example: "A hefty part of the budget was allocated to marketing efforts this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In the BBC series, a hefty part of the flavour came from dredging up reminders of how chuffing grim 1970s Manchester was.

The Guardian - Film

Moreover, many students who enter a degree program but do not complete it still end up heavily in debt — taking on a hefty part of the cost of higher education without getting its full benefits.

The New York Times

The Hamptons won't be paying it, but the Marlins and the Rockies will be paying a hefty part of Hampton's salary, making whatever the amount is the most cash ever included in a trade.

The New York Times - Sports

So after my diagnosis, a period on sick leave and a very useful discussion with an advisor on the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline, I decided to tell my managers and HR team about my MS. A hefty part of the "coming out" process, it was a great experience.

Independent

That's because a hefty part of those vehicle costs design, engineering, tooling, headquarters overhead are yen costs from the homeland.

Forbes

Campaigners are loath to spend a hefty part of their limited budget on buying equipment and software to secure a campaign that will last mere months.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

A hefty percentage of stuntmen are born into it.

The New Yorker

He fills his calendar with a list of community work including a hefty share of board work.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The second was the overseas scholarship programmes which took up a hefty share of aid agency and government training budgets.

Human Resources for Health

Aviva slipped 1.3p to 382.7p after finally disposing of its unwanted US business at a hefty loss, as part of its strategic review following the ousting of chief executive Andrew Moss.

The Guardian - Business

Preference share owners had been given the tradeable shares, which came with a hefty haircut, as part of a cash injection worth billions of euros into the bank that wreaked most damage on Spain's financial system after suffering huge losses on toxic loans to real estate developers.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a hefty part of" when you want to emphasize that the portion you're describing is not just large, but also has significant weight or impact.

Common error

Avoid using "hefty" in extremely informal situations where a more casual term like "big" or "large" would be more appropriate. While grammatically correct, "hefty" can sound overly formal or even humorous in very relaxed settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hefty part of" functions as a modifier followed by a prepositional phrase, indicating a significant portion of something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in formal writing. It highlights that the part being described is substantial in size or impact, like in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hefty part of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote a significant and weighty portion of something. While it's considered correct, Ludwig indicates that its usage is relatively rare. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it carries a neutral to slightly formal tone. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing "hefty" in highly informal contexts. Consider alternatives like "a substantial portion of" or "a large share of" depending on the level of formality you want to convey. Although there were not many examples in Ludwig's knowledge base to study, the quality and context of the existing examples are authoritative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial portion of

Emphasizes the considerable amount or size of the portion.

a significant segment of

Highlights the importance or consequence of the segment.

a considerable fraction of

Focuses on the proportional size of the fraction.

a large chunk of

Implies a sizable and often somewhat crude portion.

a good deal of

Indicates a noteworthy amount or quantity.

a sizable amount of

Stresses the largeness of the quantity.

a major share of

Suggests a dominant or influential portion.

a dominant portion of

Strongly emphasizes the controlling influence of the portion.

a noteworthy component of

Highlights the remarkableness and integrality of the component.

a considerable piece of

Similar to "chunk", but slightly more refined in connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "a hefty part of" in a sentence?

Use "a hefty part of" to indicate a significant or substantial portion of something. For example: "A hefty part of the company's profits comes from overseas sales."

What are some alternatives to "a hefty part of"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant portion of", "a large share of", or "a substantial segment of" depending on the context.

Is "a hefty part of" formal or informal?

The phrase "a hefty part of" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While not overly formal, it's more suitable for professional or news-related contexts than extremely casual conversations.

How does "a hefty part of" differ from "a large part of"?

"A hefty part of" implies not just a large quantity, but also a significant weight, cost, or impact. "A large part of" simply indicates size without necessarily implying importance or consequence.