proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a part or amount of something compared to the whole or the rest of something. For example, "The proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere is 20.9 percent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Beyond anecdote, we know very little about what kind and quantity of information is being delisted from search results, what sources are being delisted and on what scale, what kinds of requests fail and in what proportion, and what are Google's guidelines in striking the balance between individual privacy and freedom of expression interests.

The Guardian - Tech

You shall remain liable for the fees although we may, at our discretion, refund you a proportion of the fees where we have been able to reallocate your place.

The Guardian

"They distribute it in proportion to the number of seats the party won at the last election.

The Guardian

The firm attempted to maintain its profitability by marginally reducing the proportion of revenue set aside to pay staff to 36.8% from 36.9%.

The Guardian - Business

However, Thomas points to a lack of critical discussion and explanation of the very basis for Prevent's community work, the rationale for how some areas are selected rather than others, and a lack of transparency about the proportion of spending on combating different types of extremism.

The Guardian

The guiding principle to the division process was two-thirds to the Czech Republic, one third to Slovakia, based on the proportion of territory to population.

The Guardian

Four out of 10 of the force feel motivated at work, while the same proportion do not.

The Guardian

Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats has sunk to 6% – the lowest proportion of the vote recorded by Opinium for the party.

The Guardian

This will be of obvious interest to our political leaders who will want to see the proportion coming down.

The Guardian

I do not feel the sublime when I look at a city, however impressive it might be in proportion and shadow, for the reason that a city is designed, in its substance it has been formally determined, and it has been named already by the fact of its creation.

The Guardian - Books

Non-academic travel (£1,524) and leisure (£1,310) also account for a large proportion of their annual outgoings, while academic travel, trips and equipment cost students around £1,779 a year.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proportion" to highlight the relationship between a part and a whole, especially when emphasizing relative size or impact.

Common error

Avoid using "proportion" interchangeably with "percentage" without context. "Proportion" refers to a general relationship, while "percentage" is a specific form of expressing that relationship as a fraction of 100.

Linguistic Context

The word "proportion" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a part considered in relation to the whole, or the equality between two ratios. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of its usage in varied contexts. The term helps to establish the relationship or distribution of elements within a given set.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "proportion" functions primarily as a noun to denote the relative size or amount of something in relation to a whole, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and very commonly used across various contexts. Ludwig AI indicates a neutral register, often appearing in news, business, and scientific domains. To ensure clarity, carefully define the reference when discussing statistical data using "proportion". Related terms include "ratio", "percentage", and "share", offering alternatives to refine the quantitative relationships described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ratio

Focuses specifically on the quantitative relation between two amounts.

percentage

Expresses a part of a whole as a fraction of 100.

share

Indicates a part belonging to or contributed by a person or group.

fraction

Represents a part of a whole, often expressed as a numerical value.

amount

Refers to a quantity of something.

degree

Denotes the extent, measure, or scope of something.

division

Indicates the act of separating something into parts.

distribution

Refers to how something is spread or allocated.

relative amount

Specifies the quantity of something compared to something else.

relative quantity

Emphasizes the size or number of something in comparison to another.

FAQs

How do you use "proportion" in a sentence?

The word "proportion" is used to describe a part or amount of something considered in relation to the whole. For example, "What "proportion of" the budget is allocated to marketing?"

What's the difference between "proportion" and "ratio"?

"Proportion" describes the relationship of a part to a whole, while "ratio" compares two separate quantities. For example, the "proportion of" students to teachers and the "ratio of" men to women.

What can I say instead of "proportion"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "percentage", "ratio", "share", or "fraction".

Is it correct to say "a large proportion of"?

Yes, it is correct to say "a large proportion of". It means a significant part of something. For example, "A large "proportion of" the population supports the new policy".