a lower proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lower proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a smaller part or share of a whole in various contexts, such as statistics, demographics, or comparisons. Example: "In the recent survey, a lower proportion of respondents indicated satisfaction with the service compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Broward County also had a lower proportion of flawed ballots.

The New York Times

Second, rich people give a lower proportion of their income than poor people.

The Guardian

Only Nevada has a lower proportion of native residents than Florida.

The New Yorker

Only New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada and New Hampshire received a lower proportion.

The New York Times

The UK has a lower proportion of people going to university than the US.

The Guardian

However, all three of these questions registered a lower proportion of positive responses than three years ago.

The Guardian

Many free schools have a lower proportion of children on free school meals or those that have special educational needs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Higher collective efficacy and social network size also predicted a lower proportion of substance-exposed infants.

Child Abuse & Neglect

A lower proportion of CH4 and lower synthesis temperature produced fewer graphene layers.

Chemical Physics Letters

Llamas have a lower proportion of heavy chain IgG antibodies in their serum than have camels.

Journal of Immunological Methods

Movement costs are claimed to be a lower proportion of total costs in North America.

European Transport Research Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing proportions across different groups, clearly define the total for each group to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "a lower proportion of students failed", specify "a lower proportion of students in Group A failed compared to Group B".

Common error

Avoid assuming that because one group has "a lower proportion" of something, that factor is the direct cause. There may be other underlying variables influencing the result. Always look for evidence of a causal relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lower proportion" primarily functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies represents a reduced quantity or share compared to something else, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lower proportion" is a versatile phrase used to express that a quantity or rate is smaller compared to another. Ludwig AI validates that it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse domains like science, news, and business. While alternatives such as "a smaller percentage" or "a reduced fraction" exist, the phrase maintains a formal tone appropriate for analytical and comparative contexts. Remember to clearly define the total when comparing proportions and avoid assuming causation based solely on proportional differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller percentage

Uses "smaller" instead of "lower" and "percentage" instead of "proportion", both conveying a reduced amount of a whole.

a reduced fraction

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction" and "lower" with "reduced", emphasizing the decrease.

a diminished share

Employs "diminished" and "share" to suggest a decreased portion.

a slighter amount

Substitutes "proportion" with "amount" and "lower" with "slighter" which indicates reduced quantity.

a smaller segment

Replaces proportion with segment, focusing in a specific part.

a decreased quantity

Quantity replaces proportion, referring to amount in number.

a less significant part

Significant part implies something important from the total, and less makes the comparation.

a minority portion

Employs 'minority' to show a smaller part, and 'portion' which is really close to the main query.

a lighter presence

Lighter is related to less in terms of weight, presence defines where the term is.

a constricted allocation

The amount or space is now restricted, is less.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a lower proportion" in a sentence?

Use "a lower proportion" to compare subgroups within a larger population, highlighting which group has a smaller fraction of a specific characteristic. For instance, "a lower proportion of adults over 65 reported feeling lonely compared to younger adults".

What phrases are similar to "a lower proportion"?

Alternatives include "a smaller percentage", "a reduced fraction", or "a diminished share", all of which convey the concept of a reduced quantity relative to a whole.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a less proportion" instead of "a lower proportion"?

While "less" can sometimes replace "lower", in this context, "a lower proportion" is the grammatically preferred and more commonly used phrase. "Less" is typically used for uncountable nouns.

What is the difference between "a smaller proportion" and "a lower proportion"?

The phrases "a smaller proportion" and "a lower proportion" are largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, although "a lower proportion" may be slightly more common in formal or scientific writing.