a sizable fraction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sizable fraction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant portion or percentage of a whole, often in statistical or analytical contexts. Example: "A sizable fraction of the population supports the new policy, indicating a strong public interest."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A sizable fraction of the population are Indians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A sizable fraction of the remnants have moved to neighboring Ingushetia, where the Moscow-backed local government is weak.

The New York Times

Our results suggest that backrub sampling captures a sizable fraction of localized conformational changes that occur in natural proteins.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Most troubling, the guerrillas enjoy support from a sizable fraction of the population in the Sunni heartland.

The New York Times

Even at 1200°C, intense stress-relaxation processes are observed, and a sizable fraction (≈13%) of the strain is anelastic.

Acta Materialia

Lighter colors, however, reflect back a sizable fraction of the radiation, helping to keep a building — and, more broadly, the city and Earth — cooler.

The New York Times - Science

Fort Drum is accustomed to dispatching a sizable fraction of its 10,000 soldiers on peacekeeping missions to Kosovo and other potentially dangerous locales.

The New York Times

Recent experiments by Peysakhovich et al.46 suggest a sizable fraction of the population may exhibit a 'cooperative phenotype', leading them to make prosocial decisions across games.

Nature

But Tusk is wrong: a sizable fraction of the hard Brexiteers in Parliament does want "no deal," including Rees-Mogg and his Tory-rebel allies.

The New Yorker

However, the 800-pound gorilla is Saturn's moon, Titan, which has a dense nitrogen atmosphere with a sizable fraction of methane.

MIT Technology Review

A sizable fraction of the Cuban delegation at the United Nations has always been made up of intelligence officers, according to United States intelligence and law-enforcement officials.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sizable fraction" when you want to indicate that a portion is large enough to be important or noteworthy, but without specifying an exact number.

Common error

While "a sizable fraction" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in very informal conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "a lot" or "many" to keep the tone appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sizable fraction" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a notable, though not precisely quantified, portion is being referred to. Ludwig confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sizable fraction" is a versatile phrase used to describe a significant portion without specifying an exact quantity. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. As the analysis shows, it is most commonly found in scientific and news media sources. Alternatives include "a substantial portion" and "a considerable amount". Remember to avoid overuse in very informal conversations, and you'll be well-equipped to use this phrase effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial portion

Focuses on the significant amount or part of something.

a considerable segment

Emphasizes the importance and size of the part being referred to.

a significant percentage

Highlights the statistical representation of the part in relation to the whole.

a notable share

Indicates that the amount is worth paying attention to.

a large proportion

Stresses the relative size of the part compared to the total.

a good amount

Implies that the quantity is satisfactory or plentiful.

a healthy chunk

Informal way to express a considerable quantity or portion.

a respectable quantity

Suggests the amount is worthy of respect or consideration.

a major segment

Conveys the idea that the section is critical and large.

a dominant piece

Highlights that the section is prevailing and important.

FAQs

How can I use "a sizable fraction" in a sentence?

You can use "a sizable fraction" to describe a significant portion of something, for example: "A sizable fraction of the students passed the exam."

What phrases can I use instead of "a sizable fraction"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial portion", "a considerable amount", or "a significant percentage" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a sizable fraction" or "a large portion"?

Both "a sizable fraction" and "a large portion" are correct, but "a sizable fraction" may sound more formal. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "a sizable fraction" and "most"?

"A sizable fraction" indicates a notable but not necessarily majority portion, while "most" implies more than half. "A sizable fraction" suggests a considerable part, but not necessarily the largest.