as a proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

"as a proportion of" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when comparing one quantity to another in terms of proportion or percentage. Here is an example: "As a proportion of total revenue, marketing expenses have increased by 10% this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The chart shows the unemployed youths as a proportion of all youths alongside the official rate.

The Guardian

Then it measures their reliability as a proportion of this.

The New York Times

Or as a proportion of a country's total indigenous population.

The Guardian

Tuition as a proportion of income has risen.

The New York Times

Exports have fallen as a proportion of GDP for decades.

The Guardian

These are levied as a proportion of wages.

The Economist

Spending as a proportion of GDP is steady.

The Economist

This is insignificant as a proportion of the total population.

The Economist

Public investment as a proportion of GDP has been declining.

The Economist

Household consumption as a proportion of GDP fell sharply.

The Economist

In stark contrast, the government is vowing to reduce government spending as a proportion of GDP and not to raise tax as a proportion of GDP.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a proportion of" to clearly indicate how a part relates to a whole, enhancing precision in quantitative descriptions.

Common error

Ensure the "whole" you're comparing against is clearly defined to avoid misrepresenting the actual proportion. For example, state clearly what you are dividing by.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a proportion of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a ratio or relative quantity. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from economics (e.g., exports as a proportion of GDP) to demographics (e.g., youth unemployment as a proportion of all youths).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as a proportion of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express the relative size or amount of one thing in relation to another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in formal contexts such as news, science, and business. When using this phrase, clarity is key: clearly define the "whole" you are comparing against to avoid misinterpretation. Consider alternatives like "relative to" or "compared to" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in proportion to

Emphasizes a direct relationship where one quantity changes in relation to another.

relative to

Highlights the comparative nature of the relationship between two quantities.

compared to

Focuses on contrasting one quantity against another.

in relation to

Suggests a connection or association between two quantities.

as a fraction of

Specifically denotes a part of a whole, expressed as a fraction.

as a percentage of

Highlights the expression of a proportion as a percentage.

in terms of

Indicates that the comparison is being made based on a specific aspect.

by comparison with

Emphasizes a direct comparison to highlight differences or similarities.

on a scale of

Implies that the proportion is being assessed within a defined range or scale.

expressed as a ratio of

Focuses on the mathematical expression of the relationship as a ratio.

FAQs

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

Use "as a proportion of" to show how one quantity relates to a total quantity. For example, "Marketing expenses, "as a proportion of" total revenue, increased this quarter".

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

You can use alternatives such as "relative to", "in relation to", or "compared to" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "as a proportion of" and "as a percentage of"?

"As a proportion of" expresses the relationship as a fraction or ratio, while "as a percentage of" converts that relationship into a percentage. Both are correct, but the choice depends on the desired level of detail and audience understanding. Consider: "Debt as a proportion of GDP" versus "Debt as a percentage of GDP".

When is it appropriate to use "as a proportion of" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "as a proportion of" when you need to express the relative size or amount of one thing compared to another. This is particularly useful in statistical, financial, or scientific contexts.