insignificant portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "insignificant portion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or unimportant part of something, often in contexts such as reports, analyses, or discussions about data or resources. Example: "The study revealed that an insignificant portion of the participants reported experiencing side effects from the medication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Only an insignificant portion of the country's workforce does not belong to a trade union.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A not insignificant portion of them would probably not have been accepted without their athletic credentials.

The New York Times - Sports

Bioplastics currently make up an insignificant portion of total world production of plastics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A not insignificant portion of the visitors who post pictures from the room appear to have dressed to match it.

The New Yorker

This is sapping a not insignificant portion of the resources that could and should otherwise be devoted to the provision of actual health care services.

The New York Times

But a not insignificant portion of the show was just the band's core four, harmonizing intensely and playing their instruments with ferocity.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The number of compromised Yahoo accounts doesn't exactly represent half a billion individuals—some users have multiple Yahoo accounts, and some accounts are shared by groups of people but, still, a not-insignificant portion of the world's Internet users have had their names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and other details exposed.

The New Yorker

When she was declared the winner – which was expected before the party's scheduled end-time of 10 o'clock – there would be talk of who would be appointed what, with a not-insignificant portion of the partygoers in line for positions in the new administration.

The Guardian - Books

If there was a familiar ring to this idea, it may have been because many of the presenters at LeWeb — and a not-insignificant portion of the audience — had flown in from Silicon Valley, where the "death of the Web" is already an old chestnut.

The New York Times - Tech

Remember that a not-so-insignificant portion of today's venture capital (VC) investment boom centers around the cellphone as a platform for driving sales revenue.

Huffington Post

To act like it's not decades of poor social policy finally catching up to us? Anyone who is genuinely surprised that a not-so-insignificant portion of our population is comprised of people who are easily tricked and susceptible to fear-mongering and bigotry have not, in my opinion, been paying much attention.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "insignificant portion" when you want to downplay the importance or size of something within a larger context. It's useful in reports, analyses, or discussions where proportional comparisons are relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "insignificant portion" when the part, while small, still holds some relevance or impact. Overemphasizing its insignificance might mislead the audience and undermine the analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insignificant portion" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It quantifies a part of a whole, emphasizing its lack of importance or size. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase is used to downplay the significance of a particular element.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "insignificant portion" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-to-formally registered noun phrase used to denote a small and unimportant part of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's utilized to minimize the perceived importance or impact within larger contexts. It is commonly found in News & Media and Science, suggesting a prevalence in analytical and reporting contexts. For related terms, consider "negligible amount" or "trivial quantity". A key writing tip is to ensure the larger context is clear to emphasize the scale of insignificance, while avoiding its use when the portion, however small, holds genuine relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligible amount

Focuses on the quantity being so small it's practically nonexistent.

minuscule fraction

Emphasizes the extremely small size of the fraction.

trivial quantity

Highlights that the quantity is unimportant or insignificant.

slight segment

Indicates a small part or section, emphasizing its limited scope.

minimal share

Stresses the small proportion or allotment.

unimportant component

Highlights the lack of importance of a part of something.

small fraction

A more general term for a small part of a whole.

tiny bit

An informal way to describe a very small amount.

inconsiderable element

Highlights the element's lack of significance or relevance.

a drop in the bucket

An idiomatic expression indicating something is so small it's virtually meaningless compared to the whole.

FAQs

What does "insignificant portion" mean?

The phrase "insignificant portion" refers to a part of something that is so small or unimportant that it has little or no effect or consequence.

How can I use "insignificant portion" in a sentence?

You can use "insignificant portion" to describe a small amount or part of something that is not worth considering. For example: "Only an "insignificant portion" of the budget was allocated to marketing."

What are some alternatives to "insignificant portion"?

Alternatives to "insignificant portion" include "negligible amount", "minuscule fraction", or "trivial quantity", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "insignificant portion" or "small portion"?

"Insignificant portion" emphasizes the lack of importance or impact, while "small portion" simply indicates size. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended meaning. If you want to emphasize the unimportance of a portion, use "insignificant portion"; otherwise, "small portion" may suffice.