a proportion of samples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a proportion of samples" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a subset or fraction of a larger group of samples in research or analysis contexts. Example: "In our study, a proportion of samples showed significant variation in results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In this study, we introduce an alternative two-stage method, in which some promising markers are selected using a proportion of samples in the first stage and interactions are then tested using the remaining samples in the second stage.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

Results: TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 were detected in substantial quantities in all colostrum samples, but IL-6 and IL-10 were present only in a proportion of samples.

Early Human Development

Degradation was observed in a proportion of samples, evident as a broad smear of fluorescence in place of the usual single, sharp, high molecular weight band (Figure 1).

Plosone

During this period, a proportion of samples, for which nucleic acid extraction was performed at POC level, was rtRT-PCR tested only in the core laboratory (427 samples); 563/990 samples were tested using the rtRT-PCR on SmartCycler in POC laboratories, of which 33 (5.9%) were positive.

Plosone

A proportion of samples from children were taken from nonjaundiced inpatients in PNG and Fiji.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A proportion of samples could not be typed (cases 1.14%, controls 6%) by our methods.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

A proportion of sample cores within the TMA were unable to be assessed as they were missing or cores had an insufficient number of tumour cells.

BMC Cancer

Imputation of genetic variation based on a proportion of sequenced samples is feasible.

Plosone

Therefore we concluded that a proportion of our samples in the main study may not yield full genotyping data.

Plosone

In normal epidermis and in a proportion of melanoma samples, VEGF xxx b staining was seen.

British Journal of Cancer

Squared correlation coefficients indicate the approximate effective sample sizes, as a proportion of actual sample sizes, due to loss of power [ 30, 31].

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a proportion of samples", ensure the context clearly defines the total number of samples to provide a meaningful interpretation of the proportion.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a proportion of samples" automatically represents the entire population without proper statistical validation. The observed proportion might not be representative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a proportion of samples" functions as a determiner phrase specifying a quantity of samples. It indicates that only some, but not all, samples within a larger group are being referred to. Ludwig shows its use in scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a proportion of samples" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a subset of a larger sample group. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is mainly deployed in scientific and academic contexts to ensure precision in research findings. While alternatives like "a fraction of samples" or "some samples" exist, the key is to ensure the chosen phrase accurately reflects the degree of specificity required. Remember to avoid overgeneralization and maintain a clear understanding of the overall sample size for proper interpretation. The phrase's formality aligns well with scholarly writing, reinforcing its suitability for technical discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fraction of samples

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", emphasizing a smaller part of the whole.

a portion of samples

Synonymous replacement of "proportion" with "portion", indicating a part of the whole.

a percentage of samples

Substitutes "proportion" with "percentage", highlighting a specific numerical ratio.

a segment of samples

Uses "segment" instead of "proportion", suggesting a distinct section of the sample group.

a subset of samples

Replaces "proportion" with "subset", implying a smaller, defined group within the larger set.

a share of samples

Emphasizes the part belonging to a whole.

some samples

A more general term, indicating an unspecified quantity of the samples.

a selection of samples

Highlights that the samples have been specifically chosen.

part of the samples

Highlights that only some samples have been considered.

a number of samples

Indicates a certain quantity, without being precise.

FAQs

How can I use "a proportion of samples" in a research paper?

Use "a proportion of samples" to describe a subset of your overall sample group when discussing specific findings or analyses that apply only to that subset. For instance, "A proportion of samples showed a statistically significant increase in XYZ levels".

What does "a proportion of samples" mean in a scientific context?

In science, "a proportion of samples" refers to a fraction or percentage of the total number of samples being studied. It indicates that not all samples exhibited a particular characteristic or result.

What's a good alternative to "a proportion of samples"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "a fraction of samples", "a percentage of samples", or "some samples" might be suitable. The best choice depends on the level of precision required.

When is it appropriate to use "a proportion of samples" instead of "all samples"?

Use "a proportion of samples" when the characteristic or result you're describing is not present in every sample. If all samples exhibit the characteristic, then "all samples" or "the entire sample set" would be more accurate.