a subset of the population

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subset of the population" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a smaller group that is part of a larger population, often in contexts like research, statistics, or demographics. Example: "In our study, we focused on a subset of the population that included individuals aged 18 to 25."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The cause of the disease was unknown, and it affected a subset of the population.

The New York Times - Science

'Persistence' is the ability of a subset of the population to survive exposure to a bactericidal drug concentration (Fig. 2).

Nature

Others may want their contribution to go to a subset of the population, such as women or children.

The Washington Post

"Their testing scheme has not included the possibility that there is a subset of the population that is exquisitely sensitive," Dr. Wikswo said.

The New York Times

But the far more sophisticated and meaningful question, is there a subset of the population that is vulnerable and reactive to them?

The New York Times

The Trump campaign is often accused of "dog-whistling": communicating with a subset of the population through its concerns, if not directly through its language.

The New Yorker

What's more, the data comes only from mobile phone users who themselves are a subset of the population that may be biased in various ways.

MIT Technology Review

• With the aid of modern sampling techniques, the Census Bureau creates the first "long form" that is sent to only a subset of the population.

The Washington Post

Currently, many existing drugs are not usable because they are only effective on a subset of the population or cause severe side-effects for another subset.

Stanford University

This might work better if you have gender-specific mean or a mean of a subset of the population that look similar to you.

University of California, Berkeley

In such cases, a subset of the population, called a sample, is used to provide the data.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

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

Common error

Avoid assuming that characteristics observed in "a subset of the population" apply to the entire population without sufficient evidence. Always acknowledge the limitations of generalizing from a subset.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a subset of the population" functions as a noun phrase identifying a smaller group extracted from a larger population. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

27%

News & Media

43%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a subset of the population" is a versatile phrase used to denote a smaller group within a larger population. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various fields, including science, news, and academia. While alternatives such as "a portion of the population" or "a segment of the population" exist, the best choice depends on the specific context. Remember to clearly define the criteria for your subset and avoid overgeneralizing findings from the subset to the entire population.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a portion of the population

Replaces "subset" with "portion", indicating a part of the whole.

a segment of the population

Uses "segment" instead of "subset", suggesting a distinct group.

a section of the population

Uses "section" to denote a part of the population, similar to "segment".

a fraction of the population

Replaces "subset" with "fraction", emphasizing a numerical part of the whole.

a group within the population

Rephrases "subset" as "group within", focusing on the group's placement.

a sample of the population

Highlights the use of a smaller group for study or analysis.

part of the population

A more general term indicating a non-specific portion.

some members of the population

Focuses on individual members forming a part of the whole.

a minority of the population

Indicates a smaller group relative to the majority.

a specific demographic of the population

Emphasizes demographic characteristics within the subset.

FAQs

How can I use "a subset of the population" in a sentence?

You can use "a subset of the population" to refer to a smaller group within a larger population, such as "The study focused on "a subset of the population" with pre-existing health conditions."

What are some alternatives to "a subset of the population"?

Alternatives include "a portion of the population", "a segment of the population", or "a fraction of the population". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

When is it appropriate to use "a subset of the population" instead of "the entire population"?

Use "a subset of the population" when your discussion or data specifically relates to a smaller group within the larger population, and generalizing to the entire population would be inaccurate or misleading.

What is the difference between "a sample of the population" and "a subset of the population"?

While both refer to smaller groups, "a sample of the population" is typically used in research contexts to describe a group selected to represent the whole, whereas "a subset of the population" simply indicates a smaller group with shared characteristics without necessarily representing the whole.