fraction of the population

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fraction of the population" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific portion or segment of a larger group of people. Example: "A significant fraction of the population supports the new policy changes proposed by the government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Florida was little populated and developed: it had just a fraction of the population of Georgia and Alabama.

Wikipedia

Yet North Haven has a fraction of the population of Bridgeport, which at about 138,000 people is the most populous city in the state.

The New York Times

The music attracts the reticent fraction of the population.

The New Yorker

Only a tiny fraction of the population is willing to bike out in traffic like Johnson.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, he added, "We're talking about a relatively small fraction of the population".

The Guardian

A sizable fraction of the population are Indians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is unconscionable to talk about shared sacrifice when a tiny fraction of the population is doing all the sacrificing.

The New York Times

At its peak, fifty thousand people had lived there, but now only a fraction of the population was left.

The New Yorker

Furthermore, the graying of America leads to a natural decline in the fraction of the population in the work force.

The New York Times

He said that was the predictable result "of a policy geared toward a rather small fraction of the population".

The New York Times

But terrorists were only ever a tiny fraction of the population.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fraction of the population", specify whether the fraction is small, large, significant, or tiny to provide a clearer understanding of the group's size relative to the whole.

Common error

Avoid using "fraction of the population" without providing context about the size of the fraction. Without clarification, the audience may misinterpret the significance of the mentioned group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fraction of the population" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, it correctly denotes a portion or segment of a larger group of people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

27%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fraction of the population" is a grammatically sound and versatile term used to denote a portion or segment of a larger population. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts. It appears frequently in news, encyclopedias and scientific literature, serving to highlight specific subgroups within a larger population. Related terms include "proportion of the population", "segment of the population" and "part of the population". When using this phrase, specifying the size or significance of the fraction helps provide clarity to the audience. The analysis indicates that the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

part of the population

This alternative uses a more general term, "part", instead of the more specific "fraction".

segment of the population

This alternative uses "segment" to emphasize a distinct subgroup within the population.

proportion of the population

This alternative uses "proportion" to highlight the relative size of the group within the whole population.

portion of the population

This alternative uses "portion", a general term for a part of a whole.

percentage of the population

This alternative quantifies the group size using a percentage.

share of the population

This alternative uses "share" to indicate a portion belonging to a larger whole.

subset of the population

This alternative uses a mathematical term to describe a set contained within a larger set.

minority of the population

This alternative specifies that the fraction is a smaller, often underrepresented, group.

majority of the population

This alternative specifies that the fraction represents more than half of the total population.

certain number of people

This alternative replaces the fraction with a less precise quantification of the population

FAQs

How can I use "fraction of the population" in a sentence?

You can use "fraction of the population" to refer to a segment of a larger group. For example, "A significant "portion of the population" supports the new policy."

What's a more formal way to say "fraction of the population"?

A more formal alternative would be "proportion of the population", particularly in academic or professional writing.

Is it better to use "fraction of the population" or "percentage of the population"?

The choice depends on the context. "Fraction of the population" is suitable when you want to emphasize a part without specific numerical quantification. "Percentage of the population" is better when you need to provide a specific numerical value.

What are some other phrases similar to "fraction of the population"?

Other similar phrases include "segment of the population", "part of the population", or "share of the population", each carrying slightly different connotations of a collective group.