a proportion of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a proportion of students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific fraction or percentage of students within a larger group, often in the context of research or analysis. Example: "A proportion of students reported feeling stressed during exam periods."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Although accidents do happen – split condoms, forgetting to take the pill and so on – a proportion of students are still also taking risks.

The Guardian

Research has shown that a proportion of students will change their career options due to negative comments.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

We have demonstrated that only a proportion of students make use of their device so it may be seen as a waste of resources providing them to all.

BMC Medical Education

Also a proportion of students in private medical schools, could have been 'government quota students', who would therefore be more similar to public school students.

BMC Medical Education

A proportion of students had not yet reached the age of 16 when entering senior high school, but was scheduled to do so within the school term.

BMC Psychiatry

From this, it may be surmised that a proportion of students in the study reported in this paper could have lost confidence but not commented on this their reports.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The college uses a proportion of student fees to fund social and sporting activity.

Wikipedia

Women, first generation students and low-income students are sizeable proportions of the student population and, as is typical of our institutional classification, are over-represented as a proportion of the students enrolled (as compared with more selective institutions).

International Journal of STEM Education

This means there will always be a proportion of Indian students that seek overseas education.

The Guardian

A principal working in a school with a considerable proportion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds faces a series of challenges that can undermine the effectiveness of his actions.

Huffington Post

In some instances, instructors may feel the need to use a curve when a large proportion of students perform poorly on a quiz or exam.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a proportion of students", ensure that the context clearly indicates the larger group to which the proportion refers. For example, "A proportion of students in the study reported feeling stressed."

Common error

Avoid using "a proportion of students" without specifying the larger group. For instance, instead of saying "A proportion of students struggled", clarify by stating "A proportion of students in the mathematics class struggled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a proportion of students" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a noun phrase. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is used to identify a part of a larger group within the student population.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a proportion of students" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a fraction of the student population. Ludwig AI identifies that it's commonly found in scientific and news contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the larger group being referenced. Alternatives include "a percentage of students" or "a number of students", depending on the level of specificity required. This phrase appears with notable frequency in sources such as The Guardian and BMC Medical Education.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a percentage of students

Replaces "proportion" with "percentage", emphasizing a numerical representation.

a fraction of students

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction", highlighting a part of a whole.

a segment of students

Uses "segment" instead of "proportion", focusing on a specific group within the student population.

a number of students

Replaces "proportion" with "number", indicating an unspecified quantity.

part of the student body

Emphasizes that it is a piece belonging to the whole group of students.

some students

Uses the adjective "some" for a less specific indication of quantity.

a subset of students

Indicates a specific group of students that is smaller than the complete set of students.

a share of students

Emphasizes that the students represent a part of a larger whole.

a division of students

Replaces "proportion" with "division", referring to a segmented group of students.

a contingent of students

Highlights a group of students with a shared characteristic or purpose.

FAQs

How do I use "a proportion of students" in a sentence?

Use "a proportion of students" to refer to a fraction or percentage of a larger student population. For example, "A proportion of students preferred online learning."

What can I say instead of "a proportion of students"?

You can use alternatives like "a percentage of students", "a number of students", or "some students" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a proportion of students" or "a percentage of students"?

Both "a proportion of students" and "a percentage of students" are correct. "A percentage" is more specific, implying a numerical value, while "a proportion" is more general.

What's the difference between "a proportion of students" and "a majority of students"?

"A proportion of students" refers to any fraction of the student body, while "a majority of students" indicates more than 50% of the students.