are a proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are a proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the relationship of a part to a whole, particularly in statistical or analytical contexts. Example: "The students who passed the exam are a proportion of the total number of candidates."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

If prices rise, some of the capital gains are shared with the lender; so are a proportion of losses if prices fall.The marriage of housing and financial innovation may look like an ugly match in light of the crisis.

The Economist

These values are a proportion of those being hospitalized.

Health Policy and Planning

However, there are a proportion of people who receive health services from traditional healers and traditional birth attendants.

Global Health Action

The percentages reflected for ' Time with patients' are a proportion of the total observed time aggregated per LHW and then per site.

Human Resources for Health

However, a commonality among these studies is that there are a proportion of people who gain and lose weight, while others remain weight neutral.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The health workers represented here are a proportion of all health workers in the facility, not limited to those who completed the satisfaction questionnaire.

Human Resources for Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's a proportion of people paying taxes.

Yale University

Thus, the result of this procedure is a proportion of the "tumor contribution" to the sample.

Nature

"There's a proportion of young people," he says, "who are just not school-shaped.

The Guardian

There's a proportion of humanity that will always play the system, whatever it is.

The Guardian - Books

This means there will always be a proportion of Indian students that seek overseas education.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "are a proportion of", ensure that the context clearly defines both the part and the whole to which it relates. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity in statistical or analytical discussions.

Common error

A common mistake is to not explicitly define what the "proportion" is of. Always specify the total or base to which the proportion is being compared, for example, "are a proportion of the total population" rather than just "are a proportion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are a proportion of" functions as a descriptive element, indicating that a subset or group forms a part of a larger whole. As noted by Ludwig, this is a grammatically correct usage, employed to show the relationship between a part and the total.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are a proportion of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that a group is part of a larger whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is appropriate in various analytical and descriptive contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for formal or neutral registers, particularly in academic, scientific, or journalistic writing. To ensure clarity, always specify the base or total to which the proportion relates. Alternatives like "constitute a fraction of" or "represent a percentage of" may offer more specific nuances depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute a fraction of

Focuses on the fractional representation of the part within the whole.

represent a percentage of

Highlights the percentage that the part contributes to the whole.

form a segment of

Emphasizes the idea of the part being a distinct segment within the larger group.

comprise a share of

Indicates that the part makes up a certain share of the total.

account for a portion of

Suggests that the part is responsible for a particular portion of the total.

make up a part of

Simply states that the elements in question are component of the whole.

contribute to a slice of

Implies that the part adds to a slice or segment of the total.

are included in a segment of

Expresses an inclusion within a defined segment.

fall into a group of

Indicates a categorization or grouping within a specific range.

are members of a subset of

Highlights the membership of the elements within a subset of the larger group.

FAQs

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

Use "are a proportion of" to indicate that a certain group or quantity represents a fraction or percentage of a larger whole. For example, "Students who attend all classes "are a proportion of" the entire student body".

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

Alternatives include "constitute a fraction of", "represent a percentage of", or "form a segment of". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is a proportion of" instead of "are a proportion of"?

No, "is a proportion of" is only correct when referring to a singular subject. "Are a proportion of" is used for plural subjects. For example, "That amount is a proportion of the budget", but "Those amounts "are a proportion of" the budget".

What's the difference between "are a proportion of" and "represent a percentage of"?

While both phrases indicate a relationship between a part and a whole, "are a proportion of" is a more general statement, while "represent a percentage of" specifies that the relationship is being expressed in terms of percentage. The best choice depends on whether you need to quantify the relationship specifically as a percentage.