a subset of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subset of students" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used when you want to refer to a specific group or category of students within a larger group. For example: - "The research project focused on a subset of students who were identified as high achievers." - "The course is open to all students, but a subset of students with a strong background in math may find it more challenging." - "The survey results showed that a subset of students preferred online learning over traditional classroom instruction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The study will measure stress levels of students who have taken the mindfulness courses, and a control set who have not – through regular questionnaires, as well as their use of mental health services, their grades and, for a subset of students, the state of their immune systems.

The Guardian

Krakauer's timely book is also a reminder of a crucial point that a subset of students evidently need to learn: a person who is too drunk to stand or walk properly, who is vomiting or passed out, cannot consent to sex.

The New Yorker

A subset of students in the science classroom may be unwilling, or unable, to learn evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The evaluation was focused on the Connecticut participants but included assessments administered to a subset of students from a national dissemination site in Texas.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

This could be useful in the school setting, for instance, where contextual effects could be driven by the average characteristics of all students in the school, while endogenous effects by the outcomes of a subset of students who are friends.

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics

Logarithmic transforms were applied because diminishing learning efficiency was observed for a subset of students who overdosed on the combined system (7 students spent 80+ h in ALEKS, σ=1.5 above the mean).

International Journal of STEM Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The two raters also blindly scored a subset of student work samples a second time to investigate intra-rater reliability.

Assessing Writing

Two independent raters scored a subset of student responses, and they came to a consensus when they disagreed.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Although we have documented several alternative conceptions, we acknowledge that the DCI covers only a subset of student conceptions about dominance.

CBE Life Sciences Education

A maximum of five students could be reliably recorded at a time; thus, the transcribed discussions include only a subset of student voices from the 8 10 students typically seated at each table.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Even though the raters agreed on a rubric and trained on a subset of student responses, the exact interpretation of the rubric level was left up to each rater.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a subset of students", clearly define the criteria that distinguish this group from the larger student population. This adds clarity and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a subset of students" when referring to a very large or almost complete group. If the subset is nearly the entire student body, consider using a more inclusive term like "most students" or "the majority of students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a subset of students" functions as a noun phrase, specifically identifying a smaller group within a larger group of students. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and commonly used. Ludwig examples demonstrates its use in various contexts, including research studies and classroom settings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a subset of students" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to identify a smaller, specific group within a larger student population. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is used in various contexts, and the analysis of Ludwig examples reveals its frequent appearance in scientific and academic writing, alongside news articles. While alternatives like "a portion of students" or "some students" exist, "a subset of students" offers a level of precision often required in formal discourse. When using this phrase, ensure the defining characteristics of the group are clearly specified to maintain clarity and avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a portion of students

Replaces "subset" with "portion", indicating a fraction or share of the students. Emphasizes quantity.

a segment of students

Uses "segment" instead of "subset", implying a division or section of the student body.

a group of students

Replaces subset with group, being a bit less formal and precise.

a selection of students

Emphasizes the act of choosing or selecting specific students from the larger pool.

some students

A more general and less formal way of referring to a part of the student population.

a minority of students

Highlights that the group represents a smaller part of the whole, emphasizing the relative size.

a number of students

Emphasizes the quantity without explicitly mentioning a fraction of the whole.

certain students

Indicates that specific, though perhaps not explicitly identified, students are being referred to.

a few students

Indicates a small, indefinite number of students are being referred to.

a sample of students

Highlights a group of students used to make inferences about the entire population.

FAQs

How can I use "a subset of students" in a sentence?

You can use "a subset of students" when you want to talk about a particular group of students that is part of a larger group, for example: "A subset of students participated in the survey."

What are some alternatives to saying "a subset of students"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a portion of students", "some students", or "a group of students" instead of "a subset of students".

Is it appropriate to use "a subset of students" in formal writing?

Yes, "a subset of students" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to precisely identify a specific group within a larger student population.

What's the difference between "a subset of students" and "the majority of students"?

"A subset of students" refers to any group smaller than the whole, while "the majority of students" indicates more than half of the students.