a reasonable portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a reasonable portion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an amount or share of something that is considered fair or appropriate in a given context. Example: "In order to maintain a balanced diet, it's important to consume a reasonable portion of fruits and vegetables each day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

What is a "reasonable" portion of meat?

The New York Times - Health

Much like a college, Cummings said, the school tries to assess a family's ability to pay and comes up with a reasonable portion of the tuition that a student and his family will be responsible for.

The New York Times - Sports

Kate Taylor, 13 A reasonable portion of my childhood consisted of snuggling in a duvet on the floor in the back room of our parents' chip shop, while my parents worked away, manning fryers and kebab machines.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And yet viewers appeared not to have the stomach for Channel 4's The Taste, which debuted with 1.8 million viewers – a reasonable portion – in the new year, only for half of the audience to lose their appetite for Tuesday night's second episode, tumbling to just 1 million viewers, 4.2% of the TV audience.

The Guardian

In addition, after the participation in the open-ended VNOS-Form C questions, a reasonable portion of correspondents (15 20%) should be individually interviewed.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

"It is critical that these organizations share a reasonable portion of their sizable revenues with those of us whose content attracts audiences and, ultimately, helps to make their businesses viable.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

These measures would balance the budget, extend the solvency of Social Security and return military spending to a more reasonable portion of the budget.

The New York Times

Each candidate propounds his view of economic recovery to all who will listen (so long as they're registered voters in a swing state), but neither has promulgated a plan for keeping some reasonable portion of the 57 million Americans over the age of 60 contributing to the economy.

Huffington Post

175-pound Gregg would place his current portion on a cute bistro-style plate and sit down and eat the reasonable portion (even with a small amount of low-fat cream cheese and with half of a banana, sliced up).

Huffington Post

*Industry should promote more healthful food choices, including "reasonable portion sizes".

The New York Times

I freely admit to having no idea what reasonable portion control is.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing dietary recommendations, pair "a reasonable portion" with specific foods to provide clear guidance (e.g., "a reasonable portion of lean protein").

Common error

Avoid using "a reasonable portion" without context. What constitutes a reasonable portion varies depending on the item and the situation. Always specify the item or provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reasonable portion" functions as a noun phrase, where 'reasonable' modifies 'portion'. It describes an amount or share that is considered appropriate, fair, or moderate. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a reasonable portion" is a noun phrase used to describe an amount that is considered fair, appropriate, or moderate. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is used across various contexts like news, science, and business and is often associated with suggestions for moderation or equitable distribution. When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to clarify what constitutes a "reasonable" amount in the given situation. Considering alternatives like ""a fair share"" or ""an appropriate amount"" can enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fair share

Replaces 'reasonable' with 'fair', emphasizing equitable distribution.

a proportionate amount

Substitutes both 'reasonable' and 'portion' to focus on maintaining correct proportions.

an appropriate quantity

Uses 'appropriate' instead of 'reasonable' and 'quantity' for 'portion', highlighting suitability.

a suitable allocation

Changes 'portion' to 'allocation' to emphasize distribution and 'suitable' for 'reasonable' indicating fitness for purpose.

a moderate serving

Implies restraint and balance in food consumption, narrowing the context.

an adequate part

Focuses on sufficiency using 'adequate' instead of 'reasonable' and 'part' instead of 'portion'.

a sensible division

Highlights the rationality of the distribution, replacing 'portion' with 'division'.

a judicious quantity

Emphasizes the careful judgment in determining the amount, using 'judicious'.

an equitable allotment

Focuses on fairness and distribution, differing slightly in connotation.

a justifiable segment

Highlights that the amount can be defended or rationalized, changing 'portion' to 'segment'.

FAQs

How can I use "a reasonable portion" in a sentence?

You can use "a reasonable portion" to describe an amount that is considered appropriate or fair in a given situation. For instance, "He only ate "a reasonable portion" of the cake."

What's a good alternative to "a reasonable portion"?

Alternatives include "a fair share", "an appropriate amount", or "a proportionate amount" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a reasonable portion" or "a fair portion"?

Both phrases are valid. "A reasonable portion" emphasizes appropriateness based on circumstances, while "a fair portion" suggests equity and justice in distribution. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What does "reasonable" mean in the context of "a reasonable portion"?

In this context, "reasonable" implies that the amount is justifiable, appropriate, and not excessive. It suggests a moderate and sensible quantity.