a hefty portion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hefty portion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large amount or significant quantity of something, often in a context related to food or resources. Example: "After the meal, I realized I had consumed a hefty portion of the dessert, much more than I intended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a hefty portion of the population.

The Guardian

A hefty portion of rigatoni also made the grade, with a peppery, chunky Bolognese sauce.

The New York Times

Peek has partnerships with these businesses, and keeps a hefty portion of the ticket price, between 15 and 30 percent.

The New York Times

Ms. Babaev was born in Moscow, and by default a hefty portion of those overseas clients are from Russia.

The New York Times

A hefty portion of farm bill dollars goes to farmers making more than $150,000 a year.

The Washington Post

But there's no doubt that a hefty portion of the blame rests with the food that kids eat, which is unlikely to be freshly prepared.

University of California, Berkeley

Today, oxygen takes up a hefty portion of Earth's atmosphere: Life-sustaining O2 molecules make up 21percentt of the air we breathe.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A hefty portion of the 4,000 will leave through a buyout program, but the rest will be laid off, Mr. Schneider said.

The New York Times

The industry responds that it spends a hefty portion of profits on developing new drugs, though studies show that a larger share is devoted to marketing.

The New York Times

The duck à l'orange — a hefty portion of roasted breast and leg — was sauced with a sprightly orange sauce, and accompanied by wild rice.

The New York Times

Undoubtedly this practice urged on the young combined with forbidding them contraception has accounted for a hefty portion of the income of the baby-shower industry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food, consider using alternatives like "a generous helping of" for a more inviting and less clinical tone.

Common error

While acceptable, "a hefty portion of" can sometimes sound too informal for highly formal or academic writing. In such cases, consider using alternatives like "a substantial amount of" or "a significant quantity of" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hefty portion of" functions primarily as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate a significant amount or share. It emphasizes the size or importance of the quantity being described. This aligns with the examples provided by Ludwig, where the phrase describes amounts of food, money, or even blame.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Academia

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hefty portion of" is a versatile phrase used to describe a substantial amount or share of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to consider the audience and context when choosing between "a hefty portion of" and more formal alternatives like "a substantial amount of" or "a significant quantity of". Remember to avoid overuse in highly formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable portion of

Substitutes "hefty" with "considerable", implying a notable amount but potentially less emphasis on size.

a substantial amount of

Replaces "portion" with "amount", focusing on the quantity rather than the division of something.

a significant quantity of

Emphasizes the importance and size of the amount, using more formal language.

a large segment of

Focuses on the part that is being considered.

a sizeable chunk of

Uses "chunk" to indicate a significant piece, adding a slightly more informal tone.

a good deal of

Emphasizes the amount as being more than adequate or expected.

a major share of

Highlights the significant part that someone or something possess.

a generous helping of

Implies a large serving, often used in the context of food.

a sizable fraction of

Replaces "portion" with "fraction", emphasizing the part compared to the whole.

a massive quantity of

Substitutes "hefty" with "massive", stressing great size or scale.

FAQs

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

You can use "a hefty portion of" to describe a large amount or significant quantity of something. For example, "A hefty portion of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What can I say instead of "a hefty portion of"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial amount of", "a significant quantity of", or "a considerable portion of" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a hefty portion of" and "a large portion of"?

"A hefty portion of" implies that the portion is not just large, but also significant or weighty in some way. "A large portion of" simply means the portion is big.

In what contexts is "a hefty portion of" most appropriate?

"A hefty portion of" is suitable for both formal and informal writing when you want to emphasize that something constitutes a large and important share. It can be used when talking about food, resources, responsibility and many other countable or uncountable things.