constitute a significant portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "constitute a significant portion" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe the significance or importance of certain elements within a larger context. Example: In this study, women constitute a significant portion of the sample, making up 60% of the participants.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Steelmaking remains important, although services constitute a significant portion of the economy.

Britannica

These works constitute a significant portion of items included in the English Short Title Catalogue.

University of California, Berkeley

Gig workers, who are hired to complete a project, or "gig," constitute a significant portion of the workforce.

Columbia University

In addition, manufacturing cost and time, which constitute a significant portion of product cost, can be estimated.

Product Manufacturing and Cost Estimating Using Cad-Cae The Computer Aided Engineering Design Series

Indigenous peoples, such as the Murut, Kedayan, Orang Sungei, and Bisaya, together constitute a significant portion of the state's inhabitants as well.

Britannica

The Black Soldier Fly's larvae rapidly devour organic waste, including leftover meat and oil products, which constitute a significant portion of Cantonese kitchen scraps.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Tourism alone constitutes a significant portion of this amount annually.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The residential landscape constitutes a significant portion of the urban environment.

Landscape and Urban Planning

Despite the country's frequent balance-of-payment deficits, defense spending consistently constitutes a significant portion of the total budget.

Britannica

And the organic matter bound up in soils constitutes a significant portion of the world's carbon.

Nature

In the case of Christopher McCandless, there is evidence that H. alpinum seeds constituted a significant portion of his meager diet during a period before his death.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "constitute a significant portion", ensure that the context clearly defines the whole of which it is a part. For instance, "Renewable energy sources constitute a significant portion of the country's energy mix" clearly indicates that the 'country's energy mix' is the whole.

Common error

Avoid using "constitute a significant portion" when the portion is actually quite small. Ensure that the amount or percentage being described truly represents a substantial part of the whole to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constitute a significant portion" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something forms a considerable part of a whole. It highlights the relative importance or size of a particular element within a larger context, as illustrated in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "constitute a significant portion" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that something comprises a notably large part of a whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is employed across diverse fields such as science, news, encyclopedias, academia, formal business, and even wikis, maintaining a formal to neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the whole and the portion is genuinely substantial. Alternatives like "account for a major share" or "represent a notable fraction" can provide nuanced alternatives, but it's vital to avoid using the phrase when describing trivially small portions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

represent a notable fraction

Replaces "portion" with "fraction" and "significant" with "notable", slightly altering the emphasis.

form a considerable segment

Substitutes "constitute" with "form", "significant" with "considerable", and "portion" with "segment" to convey a similar meaning with different wording.

account for a major share

Uses "account for" instead of "constitute" and "share" in place of "portion", giving it a more business-oriented feel.

comprise a substantial element

Replaces "constitute" with "comprise", "significant" with "substantial", and "portion" with "element" to provide a slightly more formal tone.

make up a large segment

Employs "make up" instead of "constitute" and "segment" for "portion", resulting in a slightly less formal expression.

occupy a prominent part

Uses "occupy" in place of "constitute" and "part" instead of "portion", altering the imagery slightly.

embody a key component

Replaces "constitute" with "embody" and "portion" with "component", shifting the focus to the essential nature of the element.

hold a considerable percentage

Substitutes "constitute" with "hold" and "portion" with "percentage", making it more quantifiable.

represent a meaningful amount

Uses "represent" instead of "constitute" and "amount" for "portion", emphasizing the quantity involved.

play a central role

Shifts the meaning slightly by focusing on the importance and function rather than the quantity or size.

FAQs

How can I use "constitute a significant portion" in a sentence?

You can use "constitute a significant portion" to indicate that something forms a notably large part of a whole. For instance, "Student tuition fees "constitute a significant portion" of the university's revenue."

What are some alternatives to "constitute a significant portion"?

Alternatives include "account for a major share", "represent a notable fraction", or "form a considerable segment" depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it always necessary to specify the percentage when using "constitute a significant portion"?

While not always necessary, specifying the percentage adds precision and clarity. If the exact percentage is unknown or variable, you can still use the phrase to indicate a substantial amount, but be mindful of potential ambiguity.

What's the difference between "constitute a significant portion" and "constitute the majority"?

"Constitute a significant portion" implies a large part, but not necessarily more than half. "Constitute the majority", on the other hand, explicitly means more than 50% of the whole. The former is less definitive than the latter.