a highest proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a highest proportion" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "the highest proportion." Example: "In this study, we found that the group with the highest proportion of participants reported feeling satisfied with their experience."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's a highest proportion of the Jewish population than any other European country other than Poland, where the death camps were located.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is a high proportion.

The Economist

Only Liechtenstein had a higher proportion.

The Guardian - Sport

Only the Netherlands is reckoned to have a higher proportion.

The Guardian

Countries with a higher proportion of female parliamentarians include Spain, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands.

The Guardian

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

The Guardian - Sport

A high proportion of runners will be running at 160bpm.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A high proportion were refugees living in Pakistan.

The Guardian

A high proportion, too, have glistening foreheads and bulging corporations.

The New Yorker

A higher proportion, 45percentt, cited the Iraq war.

The New York Times

A higher proportion of UK residents also visited the museum.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the definite article "the" before "highest proportion" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "the highest proportion" instead of "a highest proportion".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the definite article "the" before "highest proportion". Remember to always use "the highest proportion" to ensure correct grammar. This avoids sounding awkward or ungrammatical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a highest proportion" is intended to function as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the absence of the definite article "the" renders it grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "the highest proportion".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a highest proportion" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "the highest proportion". According to Ludwig AI, the absence of the definite article "the" makes the phrase ungrammatical. Although example sentences do exist, they are scarce. To ensure accuracy and clarity, always use "the highest proportion" when referring to the largest share or percentage. This phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the largest proportion

Uses "largest" instead of "highest" and includes the article "the" for grammatical correctness.

the greatest share

Replaces "proportion" with "share" and uses "greatest" to convey the magnitude; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the biggest fraction

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction" and "highest" with "biggest"; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the maximum percentage

Uses "percentage" instead of "proportion" and "maximum" to indicate the upper limit; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the peak proportion

Replaces "highest" with "peak" to suggest a maximum value reached; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the uppermost fraction

Uses "uppermost" as a more formal synonym for "highest"; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the most significant portion

Replaces "highest" with "most significant" to emphasize importance; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the record proportion

This suggests that the proportion is high as compared to past observations; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the predominant segment

Replaces "proportion" with "segment" and "highest" with "predominant", indicating a dominant part; includes the article "the" for correctness.

the lion's share

An idiomatic expression indicating the largest part of something; includes the article "the" for correctness.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "a highest proportion"?

The grammatically correct way is to use "the highest proportion". The article "the" is necessary for proper syntax.

What are some alternatives to "the highest proportion"?

You can use phrases like "the largest share", "the greatest percentage", or "the biggest fraction" depending on the context.

Is "a high proportion" the same as "the highest proportion"?

No, "a high proportion" simply means that a considerable part of something exists, while "the highest proportion" indicates the largest part compared to others in a set.

When should I use "the highest proportion" instead of "a high proportion"?

Use "the highest proportion" when you are comparing proportions and referring to the one that is the greatest. Use "a high proportion" when you are simply stating that a proportion is large, without comparison.