a quarter of items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quarter of items" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to 25% of a total number of items in a specific context, such as inventory or statistics. Example: "After the inventory check, we found that a quarter of items were damaged and needed to be replaced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Around a quarter of items are unredeemed and then sold on.

The Guardian - Money

A higher proportion of requests were recorded on either side of the weekend (Mondays and Fridays) than on other days, with around a quarter of items requested (123/526; 23%) on a Friday (figure 1).

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

On average, with respect to all items, in about a quarter of the cases items were judged to be disturbed by the expert and experienced raters (see Table 5).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

On exploratory factor analysis, there were three factors which emerged as contributing a quarter of the variance in item responses.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

In 1990, when Mr. Chidester took over at the Lost and Found, only about a quarter of the 400 or so items the center received in a month were returned to their owners.

The New York Times

This is because British law allows relief on a quarter of the money spent on items including debt interest payment, spectrum purchases and installing equipment such as masts and radios.

The Guardian - Business

This is because British law allows relief equal to around a quarter of the money spent on items including buying spectrum, installing equipment such as masts, and paying any interest on company debt.

The Guardian - Business

The store is to stock about 170 items, a quarter of which will be TTTT-labeled fashion, with the rest made up of housewares, gadgets and small appliances, and accessories like tote bags and picture frames.

The New York Times

The subject watched as the experimenter placed a food item (a quarter of a piece of Froot Loop cereal) in one of three positions behind a transparent Plexiglas barrier positioned in front of the subject's cage.

Plosone

The menu runs to roughly 30 items, about a quarter of which are vegan (no animal products whatsoever); others can readily be made so.

The New York Times - Food

In Japan and some "old" western European countries it could rise to well above 20%.In a "no-change" scenario public expenditure on health would also rise steeply, so by 2050 the developed world would be spending nearly a quarter of its GDP on these two items alone.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a quarter of items", ensure the context clearly defines what 'items' refers to. Specificity improves clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a quarter of items" without specifying the total number or category of items. Vague references can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quarter of items" functions as a partitive, specifying a portion of a larger set of individual objects. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and suitable for general usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a quarter of items" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed partitive expression that signifies 25% of a specific set. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is correct across various contexts, notably in news, scientific, and business domains. To enhance clarity in writing, always define the scope of 'items' being referenced. Alternatives include using percentages or other fractional equivalents, depending on the desired level of precision. While "a quarter of items" is broadly suitable, it's best reserved for countable nouns; when referring to uncountable nouns, adjust the phrasing to better reflect the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

25% of the items

Expresses the same quantity using a percentage instead of a fraction.

One fourth of the items

Uses the fractional equivalent of "a quarter".

Approximately a quarter of the items

Specifies the quantity is close to 25% but not exact.

A portion of the items

More general term indicating some, but not necessarily exactly 25%.

A fraction of the items

Similar to 'a portion', but emphasizes that it's less than the whole.

A small percentage of the items

Highlights that the proportion is relatively small.

Part of the items

A more direct way to say some of the items are affected.

A segment of the items

Indicates that the items are divided into parts.

A share of the items

Implies that the items are being distributed or divided.

Some of the items

Even more general, indicating an unspecified number of items.

FAQs

How do I use "a quarter of items" in a sentence?

Use "a quarter of items" to indicate that 25% of a specific set of things are being discussed. For example, "A quarter of the items in the store were on sale."

What are some alternatives to saying "a quarter of items"?

Alternatives include "25 percent of the items", "one fourth of the items", or "a portion of the items depending on the level of precision needed."

Is it more appropriate to use "a quarter of items" or "25% of items"?

Both "a quarter of items" and "25% of items" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on context and desired level of formality. "25% of items" might be preferred in technical or statistical contexts, while "a quarter of items" is suitable for general use.

Can "a quarter of items" refer to both countable and uncountable items?

The phrase "a quarter of items" typically refers to countable items. For uncountable nouns, it’s better to use phrases like "a quarter of the supply" or "a quarter of the amount".