a modest proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a small or moderate amount of something in a quantitative context. Example: "The survey revealed that a modest proportion of participants preferred the new design over the old one."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In sum, in only a modest proportion of Europe does climate somewhat restrict human occupation and land use.

Britannica

Queensland lags behind the southern states in manufacturing, providing only a modest proportion of national added value.

Britannica

For the last 15 years, Australia has struggled with a modest proportion of the world's 54m asylum seekers arriving on its shores by boat.

The Guardian - Opinion

The final habitat suitability index indicates that a modest proportion (19%) of the overall embanked floodplain is available for alligator gar spawning.

Geomorphology

Many new treatments are targeted to one particular mechanism, which may exist in only a modest proportion of the enrolled patients.

Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

If you are a high net-worth investor, a sovereign wealth fund, or a central bank, it makes perfect sense to hold a modest proportion of your portfolio in gold as a hedge against extreme events.

The Guardian - Opinion

Carroll rarely looked as dangerous as he had in the first five minutes, struggled to get on the end of crosses and won only a modest proportion of aerial contests in midfield.

The Guardian - Sport

Citi analyst David Thurtell said: "While a modest proportion of production has been halted, the major impact may come from the disruption of deliveries from the mines and from the disruption of power supplies to the mines.

The Guardian - Business

Mosaics comprised of trees outside forests, remnant forest patches, and young regenerating forests constitute a modest proportion of the tropical forest estate and are seemingly well inventoried by the FRA.

Forest Ecology and Management

"While it appears that a modest proportion of production has been halted, the major impact may come from the disruption on deliveries from the mines and from the disruption of power supplies to the mines," Citi analyst David Thurtell said.

The New York Times

During the period of domination by the (Jeffersonian) Democratic-Republican Party, King served once more in the Senate (1813 25) but received only a modest proportion of electoral votes for the nation's highest offices on three different occasions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest proportion", ensure the context clearly establishes what the proportion is relative to. Providing specific numbers or comparisons enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest proportion" when the quantity is actually insignificant or negligible. Ensure the proportion, though modest, still holds some relevance to the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest proportion" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the amount or quantity being referred to is relatively small or moderate. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a modest proportion" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates a small to moderate quantity or amount. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to provide a quantitative assessment and is widely used across varied contexts such as science, news media, and encyclopedias, rendering its register as neutral. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines what the proportion relates to for enhanced comprehension. While alternatives exist, such as "a small fraction" or "a limited amount", the choice depends on the specific nuance one wishes to convey. Overall, "a modest proportion" remains a reliable and versatile phrase for indicating limited quantities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small fraction

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", emphasizing the part-to-whole relationship but keeps the same nuance.

a limited amount

Substitutes "proportion" with "amount", focusing on the quantity aspect rather than the relational aspect.

a slight percentage

Uses "percentage" instead of "proportion", quantifying the amount in terms of percentage but keeps the same nuance.

a reasonable subset

Replaces "modest proportion" with "reasonable subset", which focuses on a part of a larger group that is not too large or small.

a fair share

Uses "fair share" which implies the portion is equitable and justly assigned, while "a modest proportion" simply indicates a small amount.

a small segment

Replaces "proportion" with "segment", indicating a distinct part or section, and reduces nuance of modesty.

a measurable quantity

Emphasizes that the proportion is able to be measured, which is implied but not stated in "a modest proportion".

a conservative estimate

Focuses on the estimation being on the lower side, incorporating a degree of caution not explicitly present in the original.

a tempered degree

Replaces "proportion" with "degree", focusing on the extent or intensity but keeps the same nuance.

a restrained quantity

This alternative places more emphasis on the control or limitation of the quantity than the original phrase.

FAQs

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

You can use "a modest proportion" to describe a relatively small amount or percentage of something. For example, "A modest proportion of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What are some alternatives to "a modest proportion"?

Some alternatives include "a small fraction", "a limited amount", or "a slight percentage", depending on the specific context.

Is "a modest proportion" formal or informal?

"A modest proportion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a relatively neutral phrase that can be used in academic, business, or casual writing.

What's the difference between "a modest proportion" and "a significant proportion"?

"A modest proportion" indicates a small or limited amount, while "a significant proportion" implies a substantial or noteworthy amount. The choice depends on the actual quantity being described.