a modest proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a small or moderate amount of something in relation to a whole. Example: "A modest proportion of the budget was allocated to community outreach programs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

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

Encyclopedia Britannica

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

Encyclopedia 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

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

"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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Collectively, however, common GWAS variants account for only a modest proportion (~30%%) of the underlying variance in disease susceptibility [ 12].

Genome Medicine

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

Geomorphology

One study demonstrated that only a modest proportion (27 %) of HIV uninfected serofast patients with early syphilis achieved a serologic response 6 months after retreatment with one dose of 2.4MU BPG.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Most identified common variants confer relatively small risk (odds ratio (OR) at 1.1-1.5 1.1-1.5pland only a modexplainponlyon concerning the heritability of these diseases [ 6, 7].

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a modest proportion of", ensure the context clearly establishes the whole against which the proportion is measured to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest proportion of" when the actual amount is negligible or insignificant; this can mislead readers into thinking the amount is somewhat substantial when it's not.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that only a small or moderate amount of something is being considered. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

23%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest proportion of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a limited quantity or extent in relation to a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across various contexts, predominantly in science and news media. While the phrase is generally neutral to formal, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines the 'whole' being referenced. Common alternatives include "a small fraction of" or "a limited amount of", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoid using it when the actual amount is negligible to prevent misleading the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small fraction of

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", suggesting a part of a whole, similar in meaning but with slightly different connotations.

a slim percentage of

More precise, using "percentage" to define the modest amount.

a limited amount of

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

a minor share of

Emphasizes the small portion held or contributed.

a small segment of

Focuses on the part of something as a segment, less about the amount.

a restrained quantity of

Highlights that a limit was placed on the quantity.

a tempered amount of

Implies that the amount was deliberately kept low or moderate.

a fair few

An informal way of saying a reasonable number, but doesn't necessarily imply a proportion of a larger whole.

a sprinkling of

Implies a very small and scattered amount.

a certain quantity of

A more neutral and less descriptive way of saying some amount.

FAQs

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

You can use "a modest proportion of" to indicate a small or moderate amount of something relative to the whole. For instance, "A modest proportion of the budget was allocated to marketing."

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

Alternatives include phrases like "a small fraction of", "a limited amount of", or "a minor share of", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a small proportion of" or "a modest proportion of"?

Both "a small proportion of" and "a modest proportion of" are correct; the choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. "Modest" suggests a slightly more reasonable or acceptable amount than "small" might imply.

Can "a modest proportion of" be used for countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "a modest proportion of" can be used with both countable (e.g., "a modest proportion of students") and uncountable nouns (e.g., "a modest proportion of the budget").