proportion on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proportion on" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers, as it lacks context and clarity. Example: "The results show a proportion on the increase in sales over the last quarter." (This usage is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is a nice bit of reality to restore one's sense of proportion on the way out.

The Guardian

This is the highest proportion on record.

Independent

The literary texture that elevates Florentino's story to epic proportion on the page is missing here.

The New York Times

"But just try to keep a sense of proportion on things".

Independent

The government is legislating to force energy companies to place consumers on the lowest tariff, although this will only apply to the relatively small proportion on closed tariffs.

The Guardian

A bulky jacket or puffy fur can work with a clingy minidress, but in the main shorter hemlines and higher-waist trousers demand a smaller proportion on top.

The New York Times

It is a flat rate, so the very rich will preserve most of their assets while those of modest means will spend a higher proportion on care.

The Guardian

Representing seven million students does present a headache for communication, Blake admits, especially when issues get blown out of proportion on social media.

The Guardian

The Texas A&M dean, Marck Weichold, says the percentage of women on its engineering courses in Doha is 38% - double the proportion on its Texas campus.

The Guardian

A weaker pound also helped given the proportion on Old Mutual's earnings outside the UK and the shares ended up 4.8p, or 4.6%, at 110.1p.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Unless you target your audience by including it in equivalent proportion on-screen and off-screen, you will not be doing real marketing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "proportion of" or "ratio of" instead of "proportion on" to ensure grammatical correctness. Although "proportion on" is commonly found, it's considered incorrect in standard English.

Common error

Avoid using "on" after "proportion". The correct preposition to use is "of". For example, instead of "the proportion on variable rates", use "the proportion of variable rates".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proportion on" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to indicate a relationship between a part and a whole. However, its usage is grammatically questionable, as noted by Ludwig. It often appears in contexts where "proportion of" would be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "proportion on" appears frequently across various sources, including science, news, and formal business contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig flags the expression and recommends using "proportion of" instead. The prevalence of "proportion on" might be due to its intuitive structure, but writers should avoid it in formal writing. Correct alternatives include "proportion of", "ratio of", and "percentage of". While often used, the phrase's incorrect grammar impacts its suitability for academic and professional communications. Always opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportion of

Replaces 'on' with 'of' to create a grammatically correct prepositional phrase, indicating a part in relation to a whole.

ratio of

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'ratio' while keeping 'of' for grammatical accuracy, emphasizing a quantitative comparison.

percentage of

Emphasizes the proportional value as a percentage, maintaining grammatical correctness with 'of'.

share of

Replaces 'proportion' with 'share', highlighting a portion or allocation, and uses 'of' for proper grammar.

fraction of

Uses 'fraction' instead of 'proportion', focusing on the numerical aspect of the part-whole relationship, linked with 'of'.

amount of

Replaces 'proportion' with 'amount', suitable when referring to a quantity, and uses 'of' for correct usage.

degree of

Substitutes 'proportion' with 'degree', useful when referring to the extent or intensity, paired with 'of'.

extent of

Replaces 'proportion' with 'extent', highlighting the scope or range, and maintains grammatical accuracy with 'of'.

incidence of

Focuses on the rate or frequency with which something occurs, using 'of' to form a grammatically sound phrase.

rate of

Emphasizes the frequency or speed at which something happens, using 'of' to ensure grammatical correctness.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "proportion on"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase it is "proportion of". For example, instead of saying "the proportion on students", you should say "the proportion of students".

Is "proportion on" grammatically correct?

No, "proportion on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing is "proportion of". You can also use alternatives like "ratio of" depending on the context.

When should I use "proportion of" instead of "proportion on"?

Always use "proportion of" instead of "proportion on". The preposition "of" correctly indicates the relationship between a part and a whole. For example, "the proportion of women" is correct, while "the proportion on women" is not.

What are some alternatives to "proportion on" that I can use in my writing?

Instead of "proportion on", use "proportion of". Other alternatives include "percentage of", "share of", or "fraction of depending on the specific context".