a vast proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a vast proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a large part or percentage of a particular group or category. Example: "A vast proportion of the population supports the new policy, indicating a strong consensus among citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Charging for entry would immediately exclude a vast proportion of our society.

The Guardian

From humble internal communications beginnings, email now dominates a vast proportion of everyday life.

The Guardian - Tech

A vast proportion of 21st-century art traces its origins to these words, that pissotière.

The Guardian - Books

Compromising its natural tourist attractions would undoubtedly put a vast proportion of its economy – and corresponding jobs – at risk.

The Guardian

The third was that a vast proportion of the welfare budget went on the unemployed and the "feckless".

The Guardian - Business

Whether highly visible or merged with the existing cityscape, a vast proportion of the fabric of any city is made up of residential space.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

This is a reminder that the vast proportion of casualties of terrorism are Muslims killed by co-religionists.

The Guardian

Although much of evolutionary biology has understandably focused on the dynamics of reproduction and its consequences, in reality the vast proportion of an organism's lifespan is given over to economic, rather than reproductive, pursuits.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Investigators say the rule on halting trading was created for a time when one exchange accounted for the vast proportion of stock trading.

The New York Times

In the face of stubborn statistics about the vast proportion of tax relief paid out to a small proportion of well-to-do savers, the chancellor had been playing with levelling out the subsidies between higher-rate taxpayers, who are currently handed 67p in relief from the revenue for every £1 they chip in, and the mere 25p that goes to basic-rate taxpayers when they do the same.

The Guardian

While the superhosts of filarial Wolbachia include the insect vector, the vast proportion of the nematode lifecycle is spent within a mammalian host.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a vast proportion of", ensure the noun it modifies is appropriate for indicating a quantity or share. For example, use it with populations, budgets, or resources.

Common error

Avoid using "a vast proportion of" with nouns that cannot be easily quantified or measured. Opt for alternatives like "significant impact on" or "strong influence on" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vast proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically as a quantifier. It introduces a noun and specifies that a large part or percentage of that noun is being considered. Ludwig confirms this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a vast proportion of" is a versatile and commonly used quantifier, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's best suited for formal and scientific contexts to emphasize the significance of a large share or percentage. Remember to use it with quantifiable nouns, and consider alternatives like "a significant percentage of" or "the majority of" for different levels of formality or when greater specificity is needed. Usage examples from Ludwig underscore its wide applicability in academic, scientific, and news contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant percentage of

Replaces "vast proportion" with a more specific quantification.

a large fraction of

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction", maintaining a similar meaning.

a considerable segment of

Offers a more formal alternative, replacing "vast" with "considerable" and "proportion" with "segment".

a substantial amount of

Shifts the focus from proportion to amount, suitable for uncountable nouns.

a sizable chunk of

Provides a less formal, more colloquial alternative.

the majority of

Implies a proportion greater than 50%.

a good deal of

Suitable when referring to something that can't be easily quantified.

a noteworthy share of

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the proportion.

a dominant part of

Highlights the prevalence or influence of the proportion.

most of

A simpler, more direct way to indicate a large proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "a vast proportion of" in a sentence?

Use "a vast proportion of" to describe a large segment or percentage of something. For example, "A vast proportion of the budget is allocated to education".

What are some alternatives to "a vast proportion of"?

You can use alternatives such as "a significant percentage of", "a large fraction of", or "the majority of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a vast proportion of people"?

Yes, it is correct. "A vast proportion of" is commonly used to refer to a large number or percentage of people within a specific group or population.

What's the difference between "a vast proportion of" and "a small proportion of"?

"A vast proportion of" indicates that a large part of something is being referred to, while "a small proportion of" indicates that a small part of something is being referred to. They are opposites in terms of quantity.