a large portion of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a large portion of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a large amount of something, usually a collective group or set of something. An example sentence would be, "A large portion of the population lives in rural areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A large portion of it is steel.

The New York Times

You are alienating a large portion of your base supporters".

The Guardian

Indians made up a large portion of the live audience.

The New York Times

"It's a large portion of the growth," he said.

The New York Times

At play now is a large portion of the electorate.

The New York Times

A large portion of the city's population is Chinese.

Britannica

Defaulters represent a large portion of today's college students.

Stanford University

A large portion of research involves condensed matter physics.

Harvard University

A large portion of this will be public money.

The Economist

A large portion of the collection is also available online.

The New York Times

A large portion of the nation's young missed their educations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a large portion of", ensure the context clearly defines the total from which the portion is derived. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a large portion of" without clearly defining or referencing the entire group or quantity. Without this context, the phrase becomes vague and loses its impact. For example, instead of saying 'A large portion of students failed', specify 'A large portion of the students in the introductory physics class failed'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large portion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a substantive amount. It modifies a noun to indicate that a considerable segment or share is being referenced, as demonstrated across numerous Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

27%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a large portion of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a significant quantity or share of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability across various contexts. As illustrated by the examples, its frequency is very common in News & Media, Science and Wiki. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by defining the total quantity to which the portion refers. Alternatives such as "a significant amount of" or "a considerable part of" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant amount of

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the quantity being referenced.

a considerable part of

Highlights the size or extent of the share being discussed.

a substantial segment of

Focuses on the idea of a distinct and sizable section within a larger whole.

a major fraction of

Uses a more mathematical term to describe the portion, implying a clear division.

a good deal of

Offers a slightly more informal way to indicate a significant quantity.

a sizable chunk of

Suggests a physically or conceptually large piece.

the majority of

Implies that the portion is greater than half.

a hefty percentage of

Emphasizes the numerical proportion and its weight or impact.

a generous share of

Indicates that the portion is ample or more than expected.

much of

A simpler, more concise way to express a large quantity or proportion.

FAQs

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

Use "a large portion of" to indicate that a significant part of a whole is being referred to. For example, "A large portion of the budget was allocated to marketing".

What are some alternatives to using "a large portion of"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a significant amount of", "a considerable part of", or "a substantial segment of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "a large portion of" and "the majority of"?

"A large portion of" implies a significant part, while "the majority of" specifically means more than half. Therefore, while "the majority of" is always a large portion, "a large portion of" isn't necessarily the majority.

Can "a large portion of" be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "a large portion of" can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example, "a large portion of the students" (countable) and "a large portion of the water" (uncountable).