a minimal proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a minimal proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a small or insignificant part of a whole in various contexts, such as statistics, research, or analysis. Example: "In the survey, only a minimal proportion of respondents indicated that they were dissatisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Suppose that the aim is to employ a minimal proportion of τ Red workers in each firm.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

However, the results of this study are assumed to be reliable because of the detailed analysis of all fatal road accidents that occurred in Finland over a period of 3 years and the fact that only a minimal proportion of cases had insufficient data.

European Transport Research Review

Development of the control website was assumed to take a minimal proportion (5%) of overall costs.

Plosone

Moreover, in EnvBF immunized mice in which cross-reactivity is displayed, we could find at least a minimal proportion of cells (2,8%) producing the three cytokines simultaneously.

Plosone

To further elucidate the biological and molecular functions targeted by expression responses, we analyzed associations between GO biological processes and DE genes in transgenic and tumor cells and constructed network clusters, which connected signaling molecules in pathways with a minimal proportion of differentially expressed components.

Plosone

Because of the short follow-up time, this happened in a minimal proportion of cases (0.1%).

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

In particular, this result applies to cooperative Boolean networks with a fixed minimal proportion of binary AND or binary OR regulatory functions.

Advances in Difference Equations

The captures result in the image like depicted in the bottom row of Fig. 2. The area A also defines the minimal proportion of pixels located at a deeper level than the ground, since it represents the projection of the first descending step.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The methodology is based on pairwise genetic distances between accessions that compose a thematic collection for a trait of interest, in order to select a core collection which will meet the following standard requirements: the maintenance of a pre-defined minimal proportion of alleles of the total collection, and a sample size that facilitates its practical usage by breeding programs.

BMC Plant Biology

A PPV of 80% with 95% confidence interval and a lower bound of 70% is defined as a minimal acceptable proportion.

BMC Pediatrics

The relations between the minimal proportion of object within the computational window α min and the size of computational window T W can be defined as: {alpha}_{min }=frac{1}{T_W^2} (13).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a minimal proportion", ensure the context clearly establishes the whole to which the proportion relates. Be precise in defining what constitutes the 'whole' for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a minimal proportion" when the actual impact is substantial. Overusing it to downplay genuine significance can undermine your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a minimal proportion" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies the noun, indicating that the amount or share being referred to is very small. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is both correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

94%

News & Media

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a minimal proportion" is a useful tool for indicating that something represents a very small part of a whole. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in formal and scientific writing. While alternatives like "a negligible fraction" or "a tiny percentage" exist, "a minimal proportion" emphasizes the insignificance of the amount. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by defining the 'whole' and avoid overstating its significance. The analyzed contexts show its prevalence in Science, further solidifying its register as academic and scientific.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a negligible fraction

Emphasizes the insignificance of the proportion.

a tiny percentage

Uses a more specific term for proportion, highlighting its small size.

a very small amount

Focuses on the quantity being small, rather than the proportional aspect.

a trace quantity

Suggests an extremely small, almost undetectable amount.

a slight degree

Indicates a minimal level or extent.

a nominal share

Implies the proportion is so small it's almost in name only.

an insignificant portion

Highlights the unimportance of the portion.

a vanishingly small quantity

Emphasizes the extreme smallness, approaching zero.

a hardly discernible proportion

Focuses on the difficulty of noticing the proportion.

a microscopic amount

Implies the amount is so small it is similar to something that could only be observed with a microscope.

FAQs

How can I use "a minimal proportion" in a sentence?

You can use "a minimal proportion" to describe a small or insignificant part of a whole. For example, "A minimal proportion of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What phrases are similar to "a minimal proportion"?

Alternatives include "a negligible fraction", "a tiny percentage", or "a very small amount" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a minimal proportion" in formal writing?

Yes, "a minimal proportion" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific, technical, or analytical contexts where precise language is valued.

What's the difference between "a minimal proportion" and "a small proportion"?

"A minimal proportion" suggests an amount that is barely noticeable or significant, while "a small proportion" simply indicates that the amount is not large. The former emphasizes the insignificance more strongly.