a slight proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a slight proportion" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a small or insignificant portion or amount of something in relation to a larger whole. Example: The new policy had only a slight proportion of support from the employees, causing many to voice their disagreement with it.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In China, however, only a slight proportion of elderly patients were subjected to simple mastectomy or lumpectomy without ALND [3].

Plosone

It was pointed out that of the 8 phyla, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes constitute the dominant part while the rest comprise only a slight proportion, which tallies the result reported by Eckburg et al [23].

Plosone

Aged people are also expected to pay a slight proportion of the medical costs themselves.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As a result, Ω LC has only a slight higher proportion of degree-one nodes than that of WRSD to recover as many input symbols as possible.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The waist circumference, the triceps- and subscapular-skinfolds sum and the fat mass index showed similar results, and just predicted a slight lower proportion of the variance in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR (Table  4).

BMC Pediatrics

Apple's iOS retained its second-placed position across Europe's five major economies, with 19% share (down the same slight proportion that Android was up), while Microsoft's Windows Phone edged up a little, for a 9.7% share of sales (and it's now customary third place).

TechCrunch

Just over half the country wanted to see Ralph Nader in the 2000 debates, while a slighter lower proportion wanted Pat Buchanan included.

Huffington Post

In the case of the weakly binding SO4−2 counterion, only slight proportions of this counterion can be associated, thus keeping a strong repulsion between the similarly charged surfactant and silica species.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Lovers of sonic spectacle could feel shortchanged by the relatively slight proportions.

The New York Times - Arts

Use of rosuvastatin showed a slight increase (DDD proportion of 12.4%).

BMC Health Services Research

The national A-level results showed little change on the previous year, with a 0.1 point decline in the proportion awarded A*-A to 26.4%, and a slight improvement in the proportion achieving A*-E to 98.8%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight proportion" when you want to downplay the significance of a small quantity or amount.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight proportion" when a more precise measurement is available and necessary. Using vague terms can undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight proportion" functions as a quantifier, specifying a small amount or share of something in relation to a whole. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct. It is often used to soften the impact of a small quantity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight proportion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a small quantity or share of something relative to a whole. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and versatile, fitting into neutral to formal registers. While relatively infrequent, it effectively downplays the significance of small quantities in various contexts, including scientific and news reporting. Related phrases, such as "a small fraction" or "a tiny amount", offer alternative ways to express a similar idea, each with slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies what the proportion relates to, maintaining clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small fraction

Replaces 'proportion' with 'fraction', indicating a small part of a whole.

a tiny amount

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'amount', emphasizing the small quantity.

a minimal percentage

Uses 'percentage' instead of 'proportion', focusing on a numerical representation of the small quantity.

a negligible quantity

Replaces 'slight proportion' with 'negligible quantity', stressing insignificance.

a modest share

Uses 'share' instead of 'proportion', implying a small part allocated or belonging to someone or something.

a limited extent

Replaces 'proportion' with 'extent', focusing on the degree to which something exists or occurs in a limited way.

a touch of

This alternative uses a more informal expression to convey a very small amount or degree.

a soupçon of

Replaces "slight proportion" with a French-derived term, implying a very small amount, often used humorously or in culinary contexts.

a hint of

Replaces "slight proportion" with another term of very small amount and that is more informal and colloquial.

a dash of

This alternative uses a colloquial expression to convey a very small amount or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "a slight proportion" in a sentence?

You can use "a slight proportion" to describe a small amount of something relative to a larger whole. For example: "Only a slight proportion of the population voted in the local elections."

What can I say instead of "a slight proportion"?

You can use alternatives like "a small fraction", "a tiny amount", or "a minimal percentage" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a slight proportion" and "a small proportion"?

While both phrases indicate a small quantity, "a slight proportion" may imply an even smaller or less significant amount than "a small proportion". The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Which is more suitable in formal writing, "a slight proportion" or "a small percentage"?

While both can be used in formal writing, "a small percentage" might be preferable when dealing with quantifiable data. "A slight proportion" is suitable when you want to emphasize that the amount is not just small, but also potentially insignificant in its impact.