a sizable fraction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sizable fraction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant portion or percentage of a whole, often in contexts like statistics, research, or general observations. Example: "A sizable fraction of the population reported feeling more optimistic about the economy this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 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

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

The Bronx Zoo now has 10 snow leopards in its collection, a sizable fraction of the total of 137 snow leopards in accredited zoos in North America.

The New York Times

Though poorly known, radiation breeding has produced thousands of useful mutants and a sizable fraction of the world's crops, Dr. Lagoda said, including varieties of rice, wheat, barley, pears, peas, cotton, peppermint, sunflowers, peanuts, grapefruit, sesame, bananas, cassava and sorghum.

The New York Times - Science

Together with already known genes, the discovery means that a sizable fraction of the overall genetic risk of breast cancer may now have been accounted for, researchers say, and much of the rest could be captured in a few years.

The New York Times - Health

Pension funds have invested in bonds issued by southern European states, while banks and insurance companies have underwritten a sizable fraction of the credit-default swaps protecting investors against default.

The New York Times

When a sizable fraction of society has a problem with an activity that has this cause/effect gap, it's customary for the state to intervene through things like public education, labelling rules, help hotlines, and sometimes direct regulation of the system.

The Guardian - Tech

Thus, "super-senior" claims against subprime mortgages — that is, investments that have first dibs on whatever mortgage payments borrowers make, and were therefore supposed to pay off in full even if a sizable fraction of these borrowers defaulted on their debts — have lost a third of their market value since July.

The New York Times

Advertising from audio and banner ads cannot generate even a sizable fraction of these royalty obligation.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sizable fraction of", ensure that the context clearly defines the whole to which the fraction refers. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a sizable fraction of" when referring to extremely small or insignificant amounts. The term implies a noteworthy portion, so ensure that the fraction genuinely represents a meaningful quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sizable fraction of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant portion or quantity of something. It suggests that the amount being referenced is not negligible and holds some importance, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sizable fraction of" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a significant portion or quantity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently employed across various contexts, notably in scientific and news media. While "a considerable portion of" and "a significant percentage of" offer suitable alternatives, it's crucial to ensure the 'fraction' is indeed noteworthy to maintain accuracy and avoid misinterpretation. By considering these guidelines, you can effectively leverage this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable portion of

Replaces "sizable" with "considerable", emphasizing the significance of the portion.

a substantial segment of

Substitutes "fraction" with "segment", highlighting that the portion is a defined part of a larger whole.

a significant percentage of

Replaces "sizable fraction" with "significant percentage", using a more explicit quantitative term.

a large proportion of

Uses "large proportion" instead of "sizable fraction", focusing on the ratio relative to the whole.

an appreciable amount of

Replaces "fraction" with "amount", suitable when referring to non-countable entities.

a notable share of

Uses "share" to emphasize that the fraction is a part or contribution.

a good deal of

Less formal alternative, indicating a considerable quantity or amount.

a healthy chunk of

Informal alternative, suggesting a substantial and positive amount.

a respectable quantity of

Indicates that the amount is significant and worthy of note.

a major division of

Implies that the fraction represents a significant split or categorization.

FAQs

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

Use "a sizable fraction of" to indicate that a significant portion of a group or quantity is being discussed. For example, "A sizable fraction of the students passed the exam."

What phrases are similar to "a sizable fraction of"?

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

Is it correct to say "a sizable fraction of the"?

Yes, it's correct. The phrase "a sizable fraction of" typically precedes a definite article (the) when referring to a specific group or quantity.

What is the difference between "a large fraction of" and "a sizable fraction of"?

While both phrases are similar, "a sizable fraction of" may subtly emphasize that the portion is not just large, but also significant or noteworthy in some way compared to "a large fraction of".