a specific proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a specific proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a particular fraction or percentage of a whole in various contexts, such as statistics, research, or analysis. Example: "The study found that a specific proportion of participants reported feeling more satisfied with their lives after the intervention."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

That is, we have not simply assumed that all irrigators, or a specific proportion of irrigators, will adopt each WUE option.

Journal of Hydrology

Chinese media say that regulators are also considering limiting the number of foreign series shown online to a specific proportion of total output.

The Economist

The control of Neurog3+ cell number and the Neurog3 threshold-dependent endocrine differentiation mechanism combine to select a specific proportion of pancreatic progenitor cells to adopt the islet cell fate.

Stanford University

Four months after the Duggan ruling another federal judge in Detroit, Bernard A. Friedman, ruled that the university's law school admissions policy -- which does not use a point system but which opponents say does aim to accept a specific proportion of minority students -- was unconstitutional.

The New York Times

'Equiproportional development', which assumes that each moult stage represents a specific proportion of the total development time, and is not affected by processes that influence metabolism such as temperature and food quality, was used to determine the mode of action of lindane on development in B. zschokkei.

Aquatic Toxicology

"The government will carry out a review of the state pension age every five years, based around the principle that people should maintain a specific proportion of adult life receiving the state pension," said the White Paper.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In CV2, a specific proportion (40%) of phenotypic records for each environment independently were set to missing at random.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

This may be due to the small sample size used in this analysis, but TNBC represents a very specific proportion of all breast cancers and these specimens are difficult to obtain.

BMC Cancer

Two international studies [ 32, 65] reported a sample-specific proportion of qualified HCAs leaving the occupation within two to three years of training (37 % [ 65] and 46.3 % [ 32]).

BMC Nursing

P ams was the monthly positive rate of each subtype for age group a. C a was the age-specific proportion of individuals with HFMD that sought healthcare.

BMC Infectious Diseases

It allows commissioners to link a specific, modest proportion of providers' income to the achievement of realistic locally agreed goals.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a specific proportion of", ensure that the context clearly defines what the whole is, to which the proportion refers.

Common error

Avoid using "a specific proportion of" without clearly defining the base or total amount. This can lead to ambiguity and misinterpretation of the information being conveyed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a specific proportion of" functions as a modifier, specifying the quantity or extent of something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct, and it helps to quantify a particular segment within a larger entity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a specific proportion of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that serves to quantify a part of a whole. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is used across various domains, but predominantly in science, news and media, and academic contexts. While versatile, clarity is crucial: always ensure the 'whole' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For alternative phrasing, consider "a certain percentage of" or "a particular fraction of". Keep in mind that "a specific proportion of" is a useful tool for conveying precise quantities when writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a certain fraction of

Replaces "proportion" with "fraction", implying a part of a whole expressed as a ratio. Has a similarity score of 95 because it is almost fully interchangeable with "a specific proportion of".

a particular percentage of

Substitutes "proportion" with "percentage", focusing on a part out of one hundred. Has a similarity score of 95 because it is almost fully interchangeable with "a specific proportion of".

a defined amount of

Uses "amount" instead of "proportion", emphasizing a quantity. Has a similarity score of 90 because it focuses on the magnitude of quantity rather than a share in percentage.

a precise quantity of

Replaces "specific proportion" with "precise quantity", stressing accuracy in measurement. Has a similarity score of 90 because it focuses on the magnitude of quantity rather than a share in percentage.

a set quantity of

Uses "set quantity" to indicate a predetermined amount, differing from a flexible proportion. Has a similarity score of 85 because it implies a fixed amount, rather than a flexible proportion.

a fixed share of

Emphasizes a predetermined portion, implying less variability. Has a similarity score of 85 because it implies a fixed amount, rather than a flexible proportion.

a designated segment of

Replaces "proportion" with "segment", highlighting a division or section of a larger whole. Has a similarity score of 80 because it focuses on sectioning a whole into a specific segment.

a selected component of

Uses "component" to emphasize a part chosen from a larger group, shifting the focus from proportion to selection. Has a similarity score of 80 because it focuses on choosing a component rather than a share of a quantity.

a given ratio of

Focuses on the relationship between two quantities, expressed as a ratio. Has a similarity score of 75 because it implies a different comparison based on two quantities.

a calculated segment of

Implies that the segment/proportion has been determined through calculation or analysis. It's less straightforward than the main query. Has a similarity score of 75 because it focuses on sections determined through analysis rather than an general share.

FAQs

How do I use "a specific proportion of" in a sentence?

Use "a specific proportion of" to indicate a particular fraction or percentage of a whole. For example: "A specific proportion of the budget was allocated to research."

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

You can use alternatives like "a certain percentage of", "a particular fraction of", or "a defined amount of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a specific proportion of" or "a certain amount of"?

"A specific proportion of" implies a fraction or percentage, while "a certain amount of" refers to a quantity. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended meaning.

When should I avoid using "a specific proportion of"?

Avoid using "a specific proportion of" if the amount is not a true proportion or percentage of a clearly defined whole. In such cases, a phrase like "a certain number of" or "a particular set of" might be more appropriate.