at what proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at what proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about the specific ratio or percentage of something in a given context. Example: "At what proportion of the population is this disease prevalent?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In addition, revenue/GDP is not the only ratio; we will also look at what proportion of total taxes comes from the various areas.

The Economist

"When we looked at what proportion of these children either attempt suicide or complete suicide, it is still less than 3 percent," said the paper's lead author, Holly C. Wilcox, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

The New York Times - Health

What stocks should be added, and at what proportion to others in the index?

TechCrunch

The Gini Coefficient is more than 100 years old now, and attention in inequality has been turning recently to measures that concentrate more on comparing extremes in the population - for example, looking at what proportion of wealth is held by the richest 1% of the population and what proportion is held by the bottom 50%.

BBC

The best numbers we get regarding frequency are studies that look at what proportion of people had heterosexual anal sex in the last year, or the last time they had sex, which is a weak proxy at best.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Our empirical determination of the importance of Cel61A illustrates that it can be difficult to predict which enzymes will be important, and at what proportions, based solely on our (imperfect) knowledge of the structures of plant cell walls and our (imperfect) knowledge of the full range of enzymatic activities of the large number of proteins secreted by lignocellulolytic microorganisms [ 3].

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Students could apply the Chaboudez and Burdon (1995) approach to their simulated data: at generation 15, in what proportion of populations is the most common host genotype matched by the most common parasite genotype?

Evolution: Education and Outreach

That leaves consumers — who are by and large poor at making complex calculations while gazing at a menu — to decide what proportion of their daily calorie allotment they are willing to expend in a single order.

Los Angeles Times

It said the closely-watched compensation to income ratio at its investment bank – measuring what proportion of its income it was paying out to its staff – had risen to 41% from 40% and remains above its target of 35%.

The Guardian - Business

Except that there is an increasingly uneasy feeling about just who is benefiting, in what proportion and at what cost to society.

Huffington Post

At present it is unclear what proportion of these patients have subclinical infection that will progress over time, resulting in more severe complications.

European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at what proportion", ensure the context clearly indicates what the proportion is being calculated in relation to. For example, "At what proportion of the total budget is allocated to marketing?"

Common error

Avoid using "at what proportion" when a percentage is specifically required or understood. While proportion is a broader term, percentage offers a more specific and easily understood metric.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at what proportion" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase, primarily used to introduce a question seeking to determine the relative amount or ratio of a part to a whole. Ludwig provides examples illustrating this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at what proportion" is a grammatically sound interrogative phrase used to inquire about the ratio or relative amount of something. While Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability, it is relatively rare and often interchangeable with alternatives like "what percentage" or "to what degree", depending on the desired specificity. It's most frequently encountered in news, scientific, and formal business contexts and used to request quantitative information. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what the proportion is being measured against.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what percentage

Focuses specifically on percentage rather than a general proportion.

what ratio

Highlights the relationship between two quantities rather than a portion of a whole.

to what degree

Emphasizes the extent or level to which something exists or occurs.

in what measure

Replaces proportion with measure, focusing on quantification.

how much of

Emphasizes the quantity or amount of something.

what fraction

Specifically refers to a part of a whole expressed as a fraction.

what share

Highlights the part belonging to a person or group.

what amount

Focuses on the total quantity of something.

to what extent

Explores the range or scope of something.

how significant a part

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the portion.

FAQs

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

Use "at what proportion" to inquire about the ratio or fraction of something within a larger whole. For instance, "At what proportion of the student body is involved in extracurricular activities?"

What are some alternatives to "at what proportion"?

You can use alternatives such as "what percentage", "what ratio", or "to what degree" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "at what proportion" or "what percentage"?

The choice depends on the context. Use "what percentage" when you need a specific percentage value. "At what proportion" is suitable for broader inquiries about relative amounts.

What's the difference between "at what proportion" and "to what extent"?

"At what proportion" asks about a specific fraction or ratio, while "to what extent" inquires about the degree or scope of something, which can be more qualitative.