by proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing relationships or comparisons between quantities or sizes in a proportional manner. Example: "The budget will be allocated by proportion to each department based on their needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

14 Republican, allotted by proportion of vote, unless majority, then winner take all.

The New York Times

It is a paradox: democracy is suggested by proportion and poise rather than by the clamor of need or desire, as a resolution rather than a competition.

The New York Times - Arts

By proportion and by cultural authority and impact, it may well be tiny Nuuk that is the most indigenous city in the world.

The Guardian

The biggest employer of foreign workers in the Gulf by sheer numbers (though not by proportion) is Saudi Arabia.

The Economist

Coupled with a system that rewards budget over-spending with added funding, it's no small wonder that China's healthcare managers face an uphill struggle that makes the UK's NHS problems seem miniscule by proportion.

The Guardian

Tony Blair wanted the UK to match the western European average of spending by proportion of GDP, and under Gordon Brown we spent 9.4% in 2010, the highest ever, but this fell to 9.1% under Cameron in 2011 and 2013.

The Guardian

By proportion of the population, Northern Ireland has the highest level of people earning wages beneath the living wage level, closely followed by Wales (23 per cent).

Independent

Christians in Lebanon, representing the largest minority by proportion in the Arab world, worry about their own future, in a country where they emerged as the distinct losers of a 15-year civil war.

The New York Times

These connections, low by proportion but still numerous, could be lots of things.

TechCrunch

We can acquire the initial shadow position by proportion method based on the shadow position feature.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

It explained that why ammonia production was not influenced by proportion of asparagine to glutamine (Fig. 2b).

Bioresources and Bioprocessing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by proportion", ensure that the context clearly defines what the proportion is relative to. For example, "allocated by proportion of sales" clarifies the basis of the proportion.

Common error

Avoid using "by proportion" without specifying what the proportion relates to. For instance, instead of saying "distributed by proportion", clarify with "distributed by proportion of population".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by proportion" functions as a prepositional phrase, often modifying verbs to indicate a method or manner of distribution, allocation, or comparison. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by proportion" is a grammatically sound and versatile prepositional phrase used to describe a method of allocation or distribution based on relative shares or ratios. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts. When using "by proportion", ensure clarity by specifying what the proportion is relative to, and be mindful of potential errors such as omitting the reference point. Consider using alternatives like "proportionally" or "in proportion" for conciseness or emphasis, depending on your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportionally

Expresses the same concept more concisely as an adverb.

in proportion

Indicates a direct relationship in size or amount, similar to the original phrase but restructured.

relative to

Focuses on the comparison between two quantities.

in relation to

Highlights the connection or association between different elements.

comparatively

Emphasizes making a comparison based on relative amounts or sizes.

correspondingly

Indicates that changes occur in a parallel manner.

based on ratio

Specifies that the determination is made according to a specific mathematical relationship.

scaled by

Implies adjustment of values using a particular scale.

as a percentage of

Highlights the expression of a quantity as part of a whole.

with respect to

Shows how something is considered in relation to something else.

FAQs

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

Use "by proportion" to indicate a distribution or allocation based on a relative share or ratio. For example, "The funds were distributed "in proportion to" the needs of each department."

What are some alternatives to using "by proportion"?

Alternatives include "proportionally", "in proportion", or "relative to", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "by proportion" and "proportionally"?

While both terms relate to the idea of proportions, "by proportion" is a prepositional phrase often used to describe a method of distribution or allocation, while "proportionally" is an adverb that describes how something is done.

What does it mean to distribute something "by proportion"?

To distribute something "by proportion" means to allocate it in such a way that the amount each recipient receives is directly related to their share or need, ensuring a fair and balanced distribution based on specific criteria.