a higher proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a higher proportion of' is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It typically refers to the comparison between two proportions or sets of data. For example: "A higher proportion of adults aged 18-24 were found to be unemployed compared to adults aged 25-34."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A higher proportion of UK residents also visited the museum.

The Guardian

United's bid contained a higher proportion of add-ons.

The Guardian - Sport

The premium increases the budgets of schools with a higher proportion of poorer children.

The Guardian

There is a higher proportion of privately-schooled students on language courses than ever.

The Guardian

Only Japan is now home to a higher proportion of scientists and engineers.

The New York Times - Arts

Only Washington and San Francisco have a higher proportion of residents with a college degree.

The New York Times

After the payments, though, a higher proportion of Indian families moved out of poverty.

The New York Times - Health

So we would like a higher proportion of shared ownership homes on the site.

The Guardian

A higher proportion of white academic staff earned over £50,000 than BME academic staff.

The Guardian

Cock crabs (males) have larger claws and a higher proportion of white meat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A higher proportion of black respondents used Instagram, the photo-sharing service, too.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a higher proportion of", ensure that you clearly define the groups you are comparing to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "A higher proportion of students failed", specify "A higher proportion of students in the experimental group failed compared to the control group".

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a higher proportion of" something in one group causes a particular outcome. Correlation does not equal causation. Just because "a higher proportion of smokers develop lung cancer" doesn't mean smoking is the only cause of lung cancer. Other factors may contribute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a higher proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that a particular group or category represents a larger relative amount compared to another. It is commonly used to make statistical comparisons, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

43%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a higher proportion of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for comparing relative amounts between groups. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appropriate for various contexts, especially in news reporting and scientific analysis. When using this phrase, clarify comparison groups to avoid ambiguity and avoid misinterpreting correlation as causation. Remember that alternative phrases like "a larger percentage of" or "a greater fraction of" can provide variety while maintaining clarity. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use this phrase to communicate proportional differences in a clear and accurate manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a larger percentage of

Focuses on expressing the proportion as a percentage, emphasizing the magnitude of the increase.

a greater fraction of

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", maintaining the mathematical sense of the phrase.

a larger share of

Substitutes "proportion" with "share", highlighting the portion belonging to a specific group.

a greater incidence of

Replaces the concept of proportion with the frequency of occurence.

an increased number of

Shifts the focus to the numerical count rather than the relative amount.

a more significant amount of

Emphasizes the importance of the increased quantity rather than the relational proportion.

a more substantial part of

Highlights the considerable size or impact of the increased section.

a greater representation of

Emphasizes the increase in inclusion or presence within a group.

a higher frequency of

Focuses on how often something occurs within a given context.

a magnified segment of

Implies that the group's size or significance has been increased

FAQs

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

Use "a higher proportion of" to compare the relative amount of something between two or more groups. For example, "A higher proportion of students passed the exam this year compared to last year."

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

You can use alternatives such as "a larger percentage of", "a greater fraction of", or "a larger share of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a higher proportion than"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "a higher proportion than" when comparing two proportions. For example, "The study found "a higher proportion of" women than men reported experiencing stress."

What's the difference between "a higher proportion of" and "a larger number of"?

"A higher proportion of" refers to a relative amount out of a total, while "a larger number of" simply refers to a greater quantity. For example, even if a smaller group has "a higher proportion of" vaccinated individuals, the larger group might still have a larger number of unvaccinated individuals.