a limited proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a limited proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific, restricted amount or percentage of something within a larger context. Example: "A limited proportion of the budget will be allocated to marketing efforts this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Worried about damaging their sales of physical CDs, record labels have so far released only a limited proportion of their lists online.

The Economist

Under the proposal, overseas millionaires will be invited to bid for a limited proportion of investor or tier-one UK visas that allow holders and their families to live indefinitely in Britain.

The Guardian

As well as starting next term on minus 10, the Football League say Portsmouth must agree that only a limited proportion of the secured debt from the previous club can be carried forward into the new company as secured debt.

The Guardian - Sport

NFU vice-president Guy Smith said this week: "After assessing the evidence and having listened to the experiences of our oilseed rape growing members this autumn, the NFU has applied for emergency use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on a limited proportion of the oilseed rape crop in England".

The Guardian

The tropical North comprising the states of Acre, Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Roraima, and Amapá covers more than two-fifths of Brazilian territory and includes the largest portion of Amazon rainforest and parts of the Guiana and Brazilian highlands; however, the region accounts for a limited proportion of the nation's population and economic output.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Estimated risk impact and estimated risk occurrence probability account only for a limited proportion of the variance in anticipated project success (12.8 %).

Business Research

The sources spreading misinformation were being retweeted heavily by a limited proportion of users who have at least retweeted the source once.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

It is thus concerning to notice that only a limited proportion of Member States have actually annulled their pre-Digital Rights legislation and that practically no Member States' laws currently comply with Tele-2/Watson," it writes in the report.

TechCrunch

Although N losses in individual spots may be relatively high, spots occupy a limited proportion of the total land area and so total losses per hectare are not large.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

Besides this, it utilizes all the available data contrary to the other two models, which may use a limited proportion of the data because of the low data processing capacity of the statistical software.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

In particular, such comparisons reveal that only a limited proportion of non-fatal hospitalized injuries are recorded by the Police, while even less is known about the reporting of less severe (e.g. non-hospitalized) injuries.

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a limited proportion of", ensure the context clearly establishes what the 'whole' is that the proportion refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a limited proportion of" when the proportion is, in fact, substantial. This can create a misleading impression and weaken your argument. Verify the actual figures before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a limited proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a quantity that is restricted or small relative to a larger whole. As Ludwig indicates, it's used to denote a part of something, where that part is not substantial.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a limited proportion of" is a versatile determiner phrase used to indicate that only a small or restricted part of a whole is being considered. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it is prevalent in academic, scientific, and news contexts. The Ludwig AI validates that the phrase is correct and usable. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the 'whole' to maintain clarity and avoid overstating the limitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small fraction of

Emphasizes the diminutive size of the portion.

a restricted amount of

Highlights the constraint or limitation on the quantity.

a modest percentage of

Suggests the proportion is moderate or unassuming.

a negligible quantity of

Indicates the amount is so small as to be unimportant.

only a fraction of

Highlights the exclusivity of the portion.

a slim segment of

Implies a thin or narrow slice of the whole.

a scarce quantity of

Conveys that the amount is rare or difficult to obtain.

a reduced number of

Focuses on the decreased count compared to a previous or expected amount.

a controlled allotment of

Suggests that the portion is carefully managed or distributed.

a finite segment of

Implies that the segment is not unlimited.

FAQs

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

Use "a limited proportion of" to indicate that only a small or restricted part of something is being considered. For example, "A limited proportion of the budget was allocated to marketing."

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

You can use alternatives like "a small fraction of", "a restricted amount of", or "a modest percentage of" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "a limited proportion of" or "a small amount of"?

"A limited proportion of" generally carries a slightly more formal tone compared to "a small amount of". The choice depends on the overall formality of your writing and the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it inappropriate to use "a limited proportion of"?

It's inappropriate if the actual proportion isn't small or restricted. Using the phrase when the proportion is significant can be misleading. Ensure the context justifies the use of a limiting phrase.