a wide portion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wide portion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large segment or part of something, often in relation to a group, area, or quantity. Example: "A wide portion of the population supports the new policy, indicating a strong consensus among citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

His arguments of electability — the spine of his candidacy — fell flat to a wide portion of the party's base here.

The New York Times

Our study, however, does confirm that the actual FS of Bi2212 is strongly affected by the pseudogap, i.e., it is partially gapped in the normal state in a wide portion of the phase diagram2,3,4,8.

Nature

— Patrick Farrell The Journal News: Do new development projects pose a threat to the delicate ecology of Haverstraw Bay, a wide portion of the Hudson River that acts as a nursery for many species of fish?

The New York Times

The American Petroleum Institute, a sponsor of the study, said the engines were chosen to represent a wide portion of the cars on the road from the 2001 model year forward, for which the new blend has been approved.

The New York Times

To address this gap in the current knowledge, line transect distance sampling aerial surveys were conducted in a wide portion of the Western Mediterranean Sea between the summer of 2010 and winter 2011.

Marine Environmental Research

When pumping at high discharge rates in a distant well, temperatures and flow logs will capture the long-term re-adjustment of hydraulic heads over a wide portion of the aquifer.

Journal of Hydrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Trough downconversion is possible to use a wider portion of the solar spectrum raising the efficiency in different kinds of solar cells.

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

In contrast, willow heights along a wider portion of the Gallatin Valley, along the open landscape of the tributary, and an upland site (all low predation risk) generally remained low (<80 cm).

Forest Ecology and Management

When I teach classical Indian philosophy, or advocate teaching it, for example, I often hear in response that doing so provides a service to the university community, and to the student body, insofar as it enhances the diversity of the philosophy curriculum, and makes the curriculum representative of a wider portion of the student body.

The New York Times

It is also the case that many of those mainstream politicians say they are keen for the assembly to draw its membership from a wider portion of society.

BBC

This trend was expected because a longer line pattern (s3) resulted in heating throughout a wider portion of the actuator compared with that of a smaller portion (s1, s2); hence, a lower temperature was reached under the same applied power.

Advanced Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a wide portion of", ensure the noun you're modifying is clearly defined and that 'wide' accurately reflects the breadth or scope being described. For example, "a wide portion of the river" indicates a broad section of the river's surface.

Common error

Avoid using "a wide portion of" with countable items where 'number' or 'quantity' would be more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "a wide portion of students", consider "a large number of students."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wide portion of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a considerable segment or area. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable. It specifies that a significant extent of something is being referenced, which is evident from the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wide portion of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a significant segment or area of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable and valid expression. Its usage is most common in scientific and news contexts. While "a wide portion of" is generally acceptable, be mindful of the noun you're modifying; for countable items, phrases like "a large number of" may be more appropriate. Alternatives like "a significant segment of" or "a considerable part of" can also provide nuanced meaning depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant segment of

Replaces 'wide' with 'significant' and 'portion' with 'segment', emphasizing importance rather than breadth.

a large fraction of

Substitutes 'portion' with 'fraction', which suggests a part of a whole, often quantifiable.

a considerable part of

Replaces 'wide' with 'considerable', highlighting the substantial nature of the part.

a substantial amount of

Changes 'portion' to 'amount', suitable for uncountable nouns and focusing on quantity.

a major share of

Uses 'share' instead of 'portion', implying a division or allocation of something.

a sizable chunk of

Replaces 'portion' with 'chunk', suggesting a more informal and less precise amount.

a good deal of

An idiomatic alternative that conveys a large quantity or extent.

an extensive section of

Replaces 'wide' with 'extensive' and 'portion' with 'section', emphasizing detailed coverage of an area.

a generous slice of

Uses 'slice' to represent a part, implying a portion that is ample or more than expected.

a notable percentage of

Replaces 'portion' with 'percentage', suitable when expressing proportions of a total.

FAQs

How can I use "a wide portion of" in a sentence?

Use "a wide portion of" to describe a significant section or segment of something. For instance, "A wide portion of the forest was affected by the wildfire."

What's a good alternative to "a wide portion of"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant segment of", "a large fraction of", or "a considerable part of" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a wide portion of", or are there better alternatives in some cases?

While grammatically correct, "a wide portion of" may not always be the most precise choice. For countable items, "a large number of" might be more suitable. For emphasis on quantity, consider "a substantial amount of".

What's the difference between "a wide portion of" and "a large part of"?

The phrases are quite similar. "A wide portion of" might emphasize the breadth or scope, while "a large part of" might simply refer to the size or quantity. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.