at a proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a proportion" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing ratios or comparisons, but it is more effective to use it in a clearer context. Example: "The costs were distributed at a proportion that favored the larger investors."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But after that, the states would share the new obligation with the federal government at a proportion that would vary from state to state.

The New York Times

Labour's cap stopped any growth in private work by banning foundation trusts from taking on private work at a proportion exceeding that of 2003 (on average 2%).

The Guardian - Opinion

If it distributed variable pay at a proportion similar to what it did in 2010, bonuses would add up to about 1.9 billion Swiss francs.

The New York Times

The model is scaled at a proportion of 1 6, weighs 103g and is 23.5cm long.

TechCrunch

It is concluded that supplementation of 224 g of LLLT in the diet of goats, which provided DM at a proportion of 0.34 or CP at a proportion of 0.59, did not affect HP and EB.

Animal Feed Science and Technology

The material used comprises stainless steel powder and a silica sol at a proportion of 65 35 wt.%.

Composites Part B: Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Accurate identification of influenza activity still requires laboratory confirmation in at least a proportion of cases.

Journal of Clinical Virology

Overall, the proportion of Muslims now residing in the European Union (including the indigenous Bulgarian Muslims) remains at 5percentt, a proportion twice that of the "nearly seven million American Muslims" mentioned by President Barack Obama in his Cairo University speech last June.

Huffington Post

In effect, we assume that at least a proportion of individuals infected in year x are immune in year x+1.

Plosone

They proposed that a patient susceptibility factor caused at least a proportion of the hip arthroplasty failures.

Acta Orthopaedica

It provides at least a proportion of the ATP required for microtubule sliding within the axoneme and, thus, sperm motility.

Human Reproduction Update

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider whether a more concise phrase like "proportionally" or "in proportion" would improve the clarity and flow of your writing.

Common error

A common mistake is using "at a proportion" without clearly specifying the elements being compared. This can lead to confusion. Always ensure the reader understands which quantities are being related.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a proportion" functions primarily as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the relative quantity or distribution of something. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing costs, the addition of fly ash, and the distribution of positive and negative examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

89%

News & Media

9%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a proportion" serves to express relative quantities or distributions, frequently appearing in scientific and news contexts. While grammatically sound, Ludwig AI suggests it benefits from careful contextualization for clarity, and more concise alternatives like "in proportion" can sometimes improve readability. Its formal tone aligns well with academic and scientific writing. When clarity and precision are key, ensure the elements being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in proportion

This alternative is shorter and more direct, often preferred for its simplicity and clarity.

proportionally

This is an adverbial form expressing the relationship in terms of how something changes relative to something else.

at a ratio of

This phrase emphasizes the numerical relationship between two quantities.

in a percentage of

This highlights the part out of a hundred, providing a specific numerical indication.

as a fraction of

Focuses on expressing the quantity as a part of a whole, often used when the exact percentage isn't needed.

at a rate of

This is more appropriate when the proportion involves a change over time or some other variable.

relative to

This phrase emphasizes the comparative aspect, showing how one thing relates to another.

in relation to

Similar to 'relative to', but can also imply a broader contextual connection beyond just quantity.

corresponding to

This suggests a direct correspondence or equivalence between the quantities.

scaled by

Implies that one quantity is adjusted based on another, often used in mathematical or scientific contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "at a proportion" in a sentence?

You can use "at a proportion" to describe the relative amount or distribution of something. For example, "The costs were distributed "at a proportion" that favored the larger investors".

What can I say instead of "at a proportion"?

You can use alternatives like "in proportion", "proportionally", or "at a ratio of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "at a proportion of" or "in proportion to"?

While both are acceptable, "in proportion to" is often more concise and clearer. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "at a proportion" in scientific writing?

"At a proportion" is appropriate when specifying the relative amounts of components in a mixture, dosages, or distributions of experimental conditions. However, be sure to provide precise values and clearly define the relationship.