a significant proportion of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant proportion of which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific part of a larger group or quantity that has been previously mentioned. Example: "The survey revealed various preferences among the participants, a significant proportion of which favored online shopping."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Under the new ownership structure around 2,000 fans have pledged almost £2m, a significant proportion of which has been placed in Escrow.

The Guardian - Sport

Every year, SGP's organisers give a hefty chunk of their profits back to attendees who want to create interactive "art experiences", a significant proportion of which appear to involve getting naked.

The Guardian - Music

The impact of people washing clothes at home is equally important: 40% of domestic water footprints stem from laundry, a significant proportion of which comes from washing clothes by hand in the developing world.

The Guardian

The health service has already been subject to billions of pounds of efficiency savings in recent years, a significant proportion of which came from freezing the pay of doctors, nurses and other front-line staff.

Independent

Ashridge, for example, has been rethinking its MBA, a significant proportion of which is now based on "live case studies", where students act as management consultants, dealing with real problems in real companies.

Independent

He is not one to toss around crumbs of comfort when he believes they're not justified, and displays a great deal of contempt for what he believes to be the naive idealism and ideologies of much of the current environmental movement – a significant proportion of which still looks up to him with a certain reverence.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The cultivated area of 3.8 million ha, a very significant proportion of which is in Madagascar, covers 46percentt of the cultivable area (8.3 million ha).

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

At the same time, the researchers acknowledge that they were unable to identify a source of infection in a significant proportion of infants, which may suggest that casual contacts outside the family area are also a source of infection.

The New York Times - Health

Although few of Bain's sample companies have yet adopted RFID, a significant proportion of those which have are extremely satisfied with the results, says Mr Rigby.

The Economist

In the Philippines, where the largest burden of health care spending falls on households, underutilization suggests ineffective distribution of public funds, failing to reach a significant proportion of households which are by and large poor.

Plosone

Remarkably, bwa alignment identified a significant proportion of Fusobacteria which were not found in the Kraken alignment or in the controls.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant proportion of which", ensure the 'which' refers clearly to a previously mentioned noun or concept to avoid ambiguity. For example: "The study analyzed several factors, a significant proportion of which were related to environmental impact."

Common error

Avoid using "a significant proportion of which" if the reference is unclear or too distant in the text. This can confuse readers. Instead, rephrase to make the connection explicit: "A significant portion of the total budget was allocated to marketing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant proportion of which" acts as a quantifying adjective phrase, modifying a noun phrase by indicating that a notable part of it possesses a certain characteristic. As stated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant proportion of which" is a versatile phrase used to denote a notable portion of a previously mentioned entity, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it serves to highlight the relevance or size of that specific part. For clarity, ensure the 'which' refers unambiguously to its antecedent. While grammatically correct, simpler alternatives may be preferable in less formal settings. As seen in the examples, the phrase contributes precision to writing, particularly when discussing data or results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable fraction of which

Substitutes "significant" with "considerable" and "proportion" with "fraction", emphasizing a notable but potentially less precise quantity.

a major part of which

Uses "major part" to emphasize that it's one of the most important or largest part of all.

a substantial segment of which

Replaces "proportion" with "segment", highlighting a distinct and meaningful part of the whole.

a large percentage of which

Uses more direct terms like "large" and "percentage" for clarity, suitable for less formal contexts.

a considerable quantity of which

Replaces "significant" with "considerable" emphasizing quantity over importance.

a notable share of which

Employs "notable share" to stress the importance and visibility of the proportion.

an appreciable amount of which

Focuses on the quantity being "appreciable", meaning it's easily perceived or measured.

a marked quantity of which

Highlights that the quantity is "marked" or easily noticeable.

a good deal of which

More informal, "a good deal" suggests a sizable amount without precise measurement.

a hefty chunk of which

Very informal; "hefty chunk" emphasizes a large and solid portion.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant proportion of which" in a sentence?

Use "a significant proportion of which" to specify that a notable part of something previously mentioned possesses a particular characteristic. For instance, "The donations totaled $1 million, a significant proportion of which came from individual contributors".

What are some alternatives to "a significant proportion of which"?

Alternatives include "a considerable fraction of which", "a substantial segment of which", or "a large percentage of which". Choose the best fit based on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "a significant proportion of which" or a simpler phrase?

While "a significant proportion of which" is grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound overly formal. Simpler phrases like "a large part of which" or "many of which" may be more appropriate for less formal writing. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your piece.

What's the difference between "a significant proportion of which" and "a significant proportion of whom"?

"A significant proportion of which" refers to things, while "a significant proportion of whom" refers to people. For example, "The books were well-received, a significant proportion of which were historical novels," versus "The applicants were highly qualified, a significant proportion of whom had advanced degrees".