a portion of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a portion of students' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of students that make up a part, but not all, of a larger group. For example: "A portion of students raised their hand to answer the question."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Size is key to the MOOCs phenomenon — the M stands for 'massive' after all  — with routes to monetisation typically requiring a portion of students to be willing to pay to get certifications.

TechCrunch

It seems that many students pursue doctoral studies simply to extend their knowledge (but without of aiming to obtain a doctoral degree) and that a portion of students leave in order to take up jobs with better financial rewards.

Science Magazine

To test for any effects of question order or test format (paper vs. online), we selected a portion of students from a single course to take a paper version of the survey (n = 27), while the remaining students took an online survey with randomized question order (n = 25).

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These questions, all of which are affirmative yes/no questions, reverse their polarity from affirmative to negative by conveying a negative assertion which shows what is problematic about a portion of student text or talk and, in the process, points to a possible solution.

Journal of Pragmatics

According to the state's Department of Education, 17 of 166 districts have full-day kindergarten for everyone, while another 28 districts provide it for a portion of their students.

The New York Times

More parents and educators are wising up to the fact that our typical school system works for a portion of the students, but leaves a large percentage underserved.

The New York Times

This is not surprising since the physical activity involved more types of actions and only a portion of the students directly participated in the actual simulation (using the binder clips to "prey" on beans and beads) at any given time, while the rest participated as recorders or in discussions.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Tests cover only a portion of what students learn, and if the stakes are high, teachers and administrators will focus only on that portion.

Huffington Post

During the second rotation of the academic year a portion of the students taking the internal medicine clerkship have completed the family practice clerkship and the PDM module during the first rotation, while the rest completed the pediatrics clerkship.

BMC Medical Education

For example, Zingales recently proposed scrapping our system of subsidized student loans in favor of a system where private venture capitalists invest in students -- specifically, "bright students" -- in exchange for a portion of the student's eventual income.

Huffington Post

Specifically, the rules will measure student outcomes at such programs in two ways: whether students repay at least a portion of their student loans and whether a graduate has an excessive debt burden compared to his or her income.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a portion of students", ensure the context clearly defines the larger group from which the portion is taken. For example, "A portion of students from the engineering department volunteered."

Common error

Avoid using "a portion of students" when referring to a very small or insignificant number, as it can overemphasize their importance. Instead, use phrases like "a few students" or "a small number of students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a portion of students" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject or object in a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it correctly identifies a part of a larger group. It is used to refer to a subset of the student population.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a portion of students" is a versatile phrase used to denote a subset of a student population. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It serves to indicate that only some, rather than all, students are involved. While it's generally neutral, its usage should be refined based on the specific context, avoiding overgeneralization. Related phrases include "a section of students" and "some students", offering similar but slightly different nuances. Remember to clarify the larger group whenever possible to provide the clearest context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a section of students

Replaces "portion" with "section", indicating a distinct group within the student population.

a segment of students

Substitutes "portion" with "segment", emphasizing a defined part of the student body.

some students

Uses a more general term to indicate an unspecified number of students.

a fraction of students

Replaces "portion" with "fraction", highlighting that the students represent a numerical part of the whole.

part of the student body

Rephrases the concept to focus on the student body as a whole, with some belonging to one category.

a percentage of students

Emphasizes a quantifiable proportion of the students.

a number of students

Indicates that there are several students, without specifying an exact proportion.

a share of students

Uses "share" instead of "portion", implying a distributed segment.

a subset of students

Replaces "portion" with "subset", indicating a smaller, related group within the larger student population.

some of the students

Similar to "some students", but with more emphasis on the students as a defined group.

FAQs

How can I use "a portion of students" in a sentence?

You can use "a portion of students" to describe a subset of a larger student group. For example: "A portion of students participated in the survey".

What phrases are similar to "a portion of students"?

Similar phrases include "a section of students", "some students", or "a percentage of students", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify the total number when using "a portion of students"?

No, specifying the total number isn't always necessary. The context often provides enough information. However, providing the total number can add clarity when precision is needed. For example, saying "A portion of students, specifically 20 out of 100, agreed with the proposal" provides more precise data.

How does "a portion of students" differ from "the majority of students"?

"A portion of students" indicates a part of the student body, without specifying how large that part is. "The majority of students", on the other hand, refers to more than 50% of the students.