a moderate proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a moderate proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a quantity or percentage that is neither too high nor too low, indicating a balanced or average amount. Example: "In the survey, a moderate proportion of respondents indicated that they preferred online shopping over traditional retail."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"It was his opinion that if even a moderate proportion of such flights could be replaced by train travel, the need for additional runways at many major airports would disappear".

The New York Times

The results revealed that the formulations containing a high proportion of furfuryl alcohol, a moderate proportion of tannin and a low level of catalyst led to the best compromise between properties having opposed trends.

Materials & Design

Wetland-dominated headwater catchments had low but stable pH, while the spring flood pH drop was largest in a group of catchments of intermediate size which contained well-developed coniferous forest and a moderate proportion of peat wetlands.

Science of The Total Environment

However, it has been argued that specific personality traits account for only a moderate proportion of the variance in social behavior, with human interaction being largely affected by situational factors [4], [5].

Plosone

Tumors grown from transplanted G-2 cells (Figure 5A) recapitulated the distinctive features of high-grade WAP-T tumors (Figure 5B), namely a moderate proportion of cells co-expressing Krt14 and Krt8/18.

Plosone

Given the small shift of 0.34 expected for pure 3n amplified genotypes (Figure 1a), the presence of a moderate proportion of stroma shifts the logR signal close to zero (Figure 1b), such that it is often difficult to distinguish 3n from 2n using logR alone (Figure 2b).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Although only a low to moderate proportion of patients who actually passed away within the observation period were identified by the prediction, the majority of selected patients had corrected predictions, as shown by the NPVs.

BMC Health Services Research

OVX: ovariectomised; OVX+Oe: ovariectomised with oestradiol benzoate treatment; SE: surface epithelium; GE: glandular epithelium; STR: connective tissue stroma; MYO: myometrium; A: low proportion (< 30%); B: moderate proportion (30 60%); C: high proportion (> 60 90%); D: almost all cells positive (> 90%); +: weak intensity; ++: moderate intensity; +++: strong intensity.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

In the case of rhFVIIa, the same downward trend was observed but in moderate proportion, which is an important point as sialylation is known to influence the pharmacokinetic properties of proteins.

Glycobiology

Interestingly, the chromosome-wise analyses reveal that some of the 'non-introgressed' calves (Supplementary Figure S4a) have moderate proportion of European taurine ancestry on a small subset of chromosomes, similarly within the Sheko population.

Heredity

Recently, between eSSR markers Embra1656 and Embra1071 (16.4 and 1.4 cM away, respectively) the QTLs governing moderate proportion of the genetic variation (11.5%) for rust resistance was identified (Alves et al. [2011]).

Botanical Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a moderate proportion", ensure the context provides a clear reference point for what constitutes 'moderate'. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your audience understands the scale you are referencing.

Common error

Avoid using "a moderate proportion" when you actually mean a small or negligible amount. 'Moderate' implies a noticeable and somewhat significant quantity, not something easily dismissed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a moderate proportion" functions as a determiner phrase specifying the quantity of something. It modifies a noun, indicating that the quantity is neither excessive nor minimal. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a moderate proportion" is a versatile phrase used to describe a quantity that is neither excessively large nor insignificantly small. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is grammatically correct and commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies what 'moderate' signifies to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives include "a reasonable fraction" or "a fair amount", depending on the desired nuance. Avoiding the misinterpretation of 'moderate' as 'insignificant' is crucial for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonable fraction

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", implying a part of a whole that is sensible or acceptable.

a substantial segment

Substitutes "proportion" with "segment", suggesting a considerable part of a larger group or entity.

a fair amount

Uses "amount" instead of "proportion", indicating a quantity that is considered just and equitable.

a considerable share

Replaces "proportion" with "share", implying a part that is significant or worth considering.

a medium quantity

Uses "quantity" instead of "proportion", specifying that the amount is neither large nor small.

a tempered degree

Replaces "proportion" with "degree", suggesting a level that is controlled or balanced.

a balanced quantity

Emphasizes the equilibrium or evenness of the amount, unlike the potentially neutral "proportion".

an average quantity

Specifies that the amount is typical or usual, rather than just being not extreme.

a respectable quantity

Highlights that the amount is worthy of respect or is reasonably large.

a good percentage

Replaces "proportion" with "percentage", providing a slightly more positive connotation.

FAQs

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

You can use "a moderate proportion" to describe a quantity that is neither too large nor too small. For example, "A moderate proportion of the students passed the exam on their first attempt".

What phrases are similar to "a moderate proportion"?

Similar phrases include "a reasonable fraction", "a substantial segment", or "a fair amount", all indicating a balanced or average quantity.

Is "a moderate proportion" the same as "a small proportion"?

No, "a moderate proportion" suggests a quantity that is neither particularly large nor small, while "a small proportion" indicates a quantity that is less than average or insignificant. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "a moderate proportion" instead of "a high proportion"?

Use "a moderate proportion" when the quantity you're describing is noticeably present but not dominant or overwhelming. Use "a high proportion" when the quantity is significantly large or prevalent.