a lesser proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lesser proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or amounts, indicating that one quantity is smaller than another. Example: "In the survey, a lesser proportion of respondents preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

And when students of color are still in smaller proportion than are people of color in the population, or women are a lesser percentage of dentists and engineers, or men a lesser proportion of physical therapists and nutritionists, that's politics.

The Guardian

Studies were predominantly within-group designs, with a lesser proportion of case studies/series, between-group and randomised controlled trials.

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

The actual equilibrium values depend on the value of e: As e grows, a lesser proportion of mutants remains infected in the subsequent equilibrium.

Plosone

In control cells, a lesser proportion of primary neurites was terminal (Fig.  3c, d).

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology

The latter result was driven by males feeding on a lesser proportion of high-fat content fruit than females (0.44 vs. 0.57; Figure 4c).

Behavioral Ecology

This is driven by males feeding on a lesser proportion of low-carotenoid content fruit than females (0.38 vs. 0.51; Figure 4a).

Behavioral Ecology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Differences in outcomes between facilities may therefore be partially attributable to these confounders, the magnitude of which is indeterminate in this study, although it is unlikely to be large as a relatively lesser proportion of patients have serious non HIV-related morbidity or HIV-related morbidity not reflected in baseline immunological status or WHO clinical staging.

Plosone

In comparison to non transfer-in patients, a greater proportion of transfer-in patients were HIV tested (95% vs. 63.9%, p<0.01), however a lesser proportion were diagnosed HIV-positive; 71% vs. 84%, p<0.01.

BMC Public Health

Three forces appointed a lesser proportion and 11 did not provide enough data to make a fair comparison.

The Guardian

Zinc white was identified as well but in a lesser proportion.

Heritage Science

However, a lesser proportion (85%) was familiar with CBE.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing proportions, ensure the context clearly defines the total from which the proportions are derived. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the comparison is meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser" when referring to countable items. "Lesser" is generally used for mass nouns or abstract concepts, while "fewer" is used for countable nouns. For example, use "fewer ingredients" not "lesser ingredients".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lesser proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically used to quantify a smaller amount relative to a whole. As demonstrated in Ludwig, it indicates a reduced quantity or degree when comparing different groups or categories.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lesser proportion of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for denoting a smaller quantity in comparison to a whole. As validated by Ludwig, it commonly appears in scientific, news, and formal business writing. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the whole from which the proportion is derived and avoid confusing "lesser" with "fewer" when referring to countable items. Alternatives such as "a smaller fraction of" or "a reduced percentage of" offer similar but nuanced ways to convey the same meaning. Using Ludwig's examples will assist writers in constructing clear and effective sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller fraction of

Focuses on the part-to-whole relationship, emphasizing the reduced fractional amount.

a reduced percentage of

Highlights the decreased percentage, useful when dealing with statistical data.

a smaller amount of

Emphasizes the decreased quantity, suitable for measurable substances or abstract concepts.

a lower quantity of

Directly indicates a reduced number or amount, suitable for countable or measurable items.

a diminished quantity of

Implies a reduction in amount, suggesting a progressive decrease.

a slighter measure of

Indicates a marginal or insignificant reduction, often used to downplay the difference.

a lower incidence of

Focuses on the frequency of occurrence, suitable for events or conditions.

a smaller number of

Highlights the reduced count, emphasizing discrete units or items.

a trivial proportion of

Suggests the reduced proportion is insignificant and may not warrant concern.

a negligible quantity of

Emphasizes that the quantity is so small it's almost not worth considering.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lesser proportion of" to compare amounts. For example, "A lesser proportion of students chose the online course compared to the in-person option".

What phrases are similar to "a lesser proportion of"?

Similar phrases include "a smaller fraction of", "a reduced percentage of", or "a smaller amount of", each emphasizing a reduced quantity or share.

When is it appropriate to use "a lesser proportion of" instead of "fewer"?

"A lesser proportion of" is suitable for non-countable items or abstract concepts, while "fewer" is for countable items. Use "a lesser proportion of resources" but "fewer books".

How does "a lesser proportion of" differ from "a smaller proportion of"?

While similar, "a lesser proportion of" may imply a degree of importance or value assigned to the proportion, whereas "a smaller proportion of" simply indicates a smaller quantity.