a large proportion were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large proportion were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant part of a group or population in relation to a specific characteristic or outcome. Example: "In the survey, a large proportion were in favor of the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

A large proportion were still undecided.

The Guardian

A large proportion were commissioned to promote upcoming one-off features in the paper such as exclusive stories, interviews with public figures and special supplements.

The Guardian

When Japanese did mobilise, mainly in Tokyo, a large proportion were amateur protesters, including plenty of young mothers and unemployed youth.

The Economist

After all, when Matthias settled on Beatrice, a Neapolitan, to be his bride, it took her three months to get to him along roads infested with highwaymen and Turkish raiders.Though many of the books commissioned by Matthias were religious, a large proportion were not.

The Economist

These women were older, white, had smoked for many years, were moderately to highly addicted to tobacco, had few financial resources, and a large proportion were depressed.

Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care

A large proportion of the country's pre-war social and political elite perished and a large proportion were dispersed.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

A large proportion are mature students.

The Guardian

And a large proportion are sent to people's workplaces.

The Guardian - Money

A large proportion is supposed to come from biofuels.

The New York Times

A large proportion was concentrated in disadvantaged areas and, in particular, north and west Belfast.

The Guardian

"Some of the partnerships are commercial in nature, a large proportion are promotional, others are experimenting with advertising models," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a large proportion were", ensure that the noun you are referring to is plural. For example: "A large proportion of the students were in favor of the change."

Common error

Avoid using a singular verb ("was") when referring to "a large proportion" of a plural noun. The correct form is "were". For example, it should be "A large proportion of the books were damaged", not "A large proportion of the books was damaged".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large proportion were" functions as a quantifier followed by a verb, indicating that a considerable part of a group or population possesses a certain attribute or experienced a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a large proportion were" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a significant segment of a group sharing a particular characteristic. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's versatile enough for both scientific and journalistic contexts. The phrase is particularly common in scientific and news-related articles. When using this phrase, ensure that it is used with a plural noun. Alternative phrases include "a significant number were" or "a considerable portion were". Understanding these nuances and common errors will allow for more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant percentage was

Changes "proportion" to "percentage" and uses "was" instead of "were" implying it refers to something singular.

a considerable number were

Replaces "proportion" with "number", highlighting the quantity rather than the ratio.

a substantial fraction was

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction" and uses "was" instead of "were" implying it refers to something singular.

a majority of them was

Uses "majority" instead of "proportion", suggesting more than half and uses "was" instead of "were" implying it refers to something singular.

a sizable segment comprised

Replaces "proportion" with "segment" and uses "comprised" offering a slightly different structural approach.

a notable share consisted of

Uses "share" instead of "proportion" and uses "consisted of" offering a slightly different structural approach.

many of them were

This is a simpler alternative, using "many" to convey a large quantity.

a good deal of them was

Employs "a good deal" indicating a large amount and uses "was" instead of "were" implying it refers to something singular.

a considerable quantity comprised

Substitutes "proportion" with "quantity" and uses "comprised" offering a slightly different structural approach.

a generous amount accounted for

Uses "amount" instead of "proportion" and uses "accounted for" offering a slightly different structural approach.

FAQs

How do I use "a large proportion were" in a sentence?

Use "a large proportion were" to indicate that a significant part of a group or collection shared a specific characteristic. For example, "A large proportion were students who had previously studied abroad".

What phrases are similar to "a large proportion were"?

You can use phrases like "a significant number were", "a considerable portion were", or "a substantial fraction was" as alternatives to "a large proportion were".

Is it correct to say "a large proportion was" instead of "a large proportion were"?

While grammatically, it depends on the context and what "a large proportion" refers to. If it refers to a singular entity, "was" can be correct, but it's more often used with plural subjects. Therefore, "were" is more common and typically more appropriate. Consider the nuances of using "a significant percentage was" instead.

What's the difference between "a large proportion were" and "a majority were"?

"A majority were" indicates that more than 50% of a group shared a characteristic, while "a large proportion were" suggests a substantial but not necessarily greater-than-half portion. The nuance lies in the specific quantity implied.