portion of the population

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'portion of the population' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to any subset of a population. For example, "A significant portion of the population is over the age of 65."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"A portion of the population is getting comfortable," he added.

The New York Times - Sports

The public sector employs a considerable portion of the population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"There is a portion of the population of whom that's true".

The Guardian

Wolf-hunting is a popular sport for a portion of the population, anathema to most.

The New Yorker

By bumping off a portion of the population, Big Tobacco was saving the Czech government millions.

The New York Times

He said that much of the crisis had affected only a small portion of the population, namely Wall Street.

The New York Times

Yes, those shoppers represent a minute portion of the population, but their devotion has helped build the brand.

The New York Times

He suspended him for 10 days, saying, "Player Powell made an uncomplimentary reference to a portion of the population".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Websites are too familiar to too large a portion of the population for this transition to happen overnight.

Huffington Post

That will take a disproportionate portion of the population into commerce — schools of business.

The New Yorker

"There's this significant portion of the population that's not succeeding in the new, loose environment.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about populations, specify the size or characteristics of the "portion" to provide more clarity for your audience. For instance, instead of saying "a portion of the population", consider specifying "a significant portion of the elderly population".

Common error

Avoid using "portion of the population" without any context or detail. This phrase can be vague, making your writing less informative. Always clarify which segment you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "portion of the population" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a segment of a larger group. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and provides examples of usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "portion of the population" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote a segment within a larger group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It appears frequently in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, demonstrating its applicability across various registers. When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to specify which "portion" you're referring to, enhancing clarity and avoiding overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "segment of the population" or "percentage of the population" can be used to add variety to your writing. This phrase serves the function of quantifying or identifying a specific subgroup within a larger populace.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

segment of the population

Replaces "portion" with "segment", implying a specific group within the larger population.

part of the population

Uses the more general term "part" instead of "portion", offering a simpler alternative.

fraction of the population

Substitutes "portion" with "fraction", suggesting a mathematical division of the population.

percentage of the population

Replaces "portion" with "percentage", emphasizing a numerical representation of the group.

share of the population

Uses "share" instead of "portion", indicating a distributed amount among the population.

group within the population

Emphasizes the collective aspect of the "portion", specifying it as a "group".

section of the populace

Replaces both "portion" and "population" with synonyms "section" and "populace" respectively.

demographic of the population

Replaces "portion" with "demographic", focusing on statistical characteristics of the group.

element of the citizenry

Substitutes "portion" with "element" and "population" with "citizenry", offering a more formal alternative.

some members of the community

Provides a less formal alternative, using "some members" instead of a more precise term.

FAQs

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

You can use "portion of the population" to refer to a segment or group within a larger population, such as "A significant "portion of the population" is concerned about climate change".

What can I say instead of "portion of the population"?

You can use alternatives like "segment of the population", "part of the population", or "percentage of the population" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "small portion of the population"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It indicates that the group you are referring to is not very large compared to the total population. For example, "Only a small "portion of the population" owns electric vehicles".

What is the difference between "majority of the population" and "portion of the population"?

"Majority of the population" refers to more than 50% of the population, while ""portion of the population"" can refer to any segment, regardless of its size. Therefore, the "portion" could be smaller than the majority.