lesser proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

'lesser proportion' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to compare two proportions to one another. For example, "The lesser proportion of the population has access to affordable health care."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Three forces appointed a lesser proportion and 11 did not provide enough data to make a fair comparison.

The Guardian

And when students of color are still in smaller proportion than are people of color in the population, or women are a lesser percentage of dentists and engineers, or men a lesser proportion of physical therapists and nutritionists, that's politics.

The Guardian

Dr. Dulac said that she expects a substantial, though lesser, proportion to be imprinted in people — maybe some 1 percent of the genome — because humans are more monogamous than mice and so the parents' interests are more closely aligned.

The New York Times - Health

Zinc white was identified as well but in a lesser proportion.

Heritage Science

Contradictorily, in our results, methanogenic microbiales were found in lesser proportion.

AMB Express

Studies were predominantly within-group designs, with a lesser proportion of case studies/series, between-group and randomised controlled trials.

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

That proportion was in the 80 to 89 percent range through most of the last decade and in the 1990s, and at modestly lesser proportions at points in the 1970s and '80s, according to an analysis of the nominee data by The New York Times.

The New York Times

Low-latitude auroras are predominantly red (66%, 835 events) with lesser proportions of white (20%, 253 events) and black auroras (6%, 67 events).

Advances in Space Research

Today, the subalpine forest of Queyras is composed primarily of larch, with lesser proportions of stone pine, mountain pine and fir.

Quaternary International

The results of Figure 2 and Table 2 are further reflected in Table 3, which shows that daily median insulin sensitivity increases for a large proportion of the cohort between days 1 and 2 with lesser proportions on subsequent days.

Annals of Intensive Care

The rodingitized slate adjacent to the blackwall is cut by numerous veins that contain fluid inclusion-rich orange grossular and clinopyroxene crystals measuring up to 5 mm in diameter, and lesser proportions of space-filling prehnite practically devoid of fluid inclusions.

Geochemical Transactions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing groups or categories, use "lesser proportion" to highlight a smaller representation of one group relative to another. For instance, "A lesser proportion of students chose to major in humanities."

Common error

Avoid using "lesser proportion" when simply referring to a smaller amount. "Lesser proportion" is best used when comparing the size of one group to a larger whole. For example, instead of saying "There was a lesser proportion of food available", use "There was a smaller portion of food available."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser proportion" functions as a quantifier, specifying a smaller amount or degree in comparison to a whole. This is supported by Ludwig AI analysis, which confirms its proper usage in various contexts. The examples show the phrase being used to describe quantities, percentages, and representation within groups.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

71%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lesser proportion" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for indicating a smaller quantity or degree when comparing parts of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and correctly used in formal contexts such as science and news. While alternatives like "smaller percentage" or "reduced amount" exist, "lesser proportion" is most precise when relating a part to a whole. When writing, remember to reserve "lesser proportion" for comparisons and not just for indicating smaller quantities. Considering that most of the occurrences are from scientific publications, the register is formal and scientific.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller percentage

Emphasizes a smaller quantity expressed as a percentage.

lower fraction

Focuses on a smaller part of a whole, expressed as a fraction.

reduced amount

Highlights a decrease in quantity or size.

smaller quantity

Directly indicates a reduced amount.

minor share

Implies a smaller portion or allotment.

slighter degree

Suggests a smaller extent or level.

limited quantity

Focuses on the scarcity or restriction of the amount.

minimal part

Highlights the insignificance of the portion.

smaller extent

Indicates a reduced range or scope.

lower incidence

Specifically refers to a reduced rate of occurrence.

FAQs

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

Use "lesser proportion" to compare the relative size of one group to another. For example, "A "lesser proportion" of applicants were accepted this year compared to last year".

What's a good alternative to "lesser proportion"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives such as "smaller percentage", "lower fraction", or "reduced amount".

Is it ever incorrect to use "lesser proportion"?

While grammatically correct, "lesser proportion" is most appropriate when comparing parts of a whole. If you're simply describing a smaller amount, alternatives like "smaller quantity" might be more suitable.

How does "lesser proportion" differ from "smaller portion"?

"Lesser proportion" is used for relative sizes of groups, whereas "smaller portion" typically refers to a physical amount. For instance, you'd say "a lesser proportion of students", but "a smaller portion of the pie".