proportionally speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proportionally speaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing relationships or comparisons that involve ratios or proportions. Example: "Proportionally speaking, the smaller the group, the more significant each member's contribution becomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Proportionally speaking, it was — a bangle the size of a grapefruit.

The New York Times

Proportionally speaking, Owsley produced more Union volunteers than all but one other Kentucky county.

The New York Times

Proportionally speaking, there are more of them than there ever were, and they are voracious cultural consumers.

The New York Times - Magazine

But, proportionally speaking, the billions of ideas diligently pursued and presented by students each year have the academic half-life of say … a mayfly.

Harvard University

'If you win more than us - proportionally speaking,' said Clement, 'we'll buy you a camera.' 'What if I lose?' I said.

The Guardian - Sport

The Late Show is not as good at drawing young people, proportionally speaking, but it attracts a much larger audience, about 2.9m viewers in total.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Whether one would come to the same magnitude of excess costs in a European setting or elsewhere remains to be studied, yet, proportionally spoken, it is unlikely that there is a cost model where this difference would not show.

Gynecological Surgery

Generally speaking, longer durations tend to be perceived as proportionally shorter than briefer ones [13].

Plosone

The wing loading of Pteranodon in this study was proportionally higher than that of Quetzalcoatlus, suggesting Pteranodon was also, relatively speaking, the faster flyer.

Plosone

This fact, properly speaking, is Weber's law: if two weights differ by a just-noticeable amount when separated by a given increment, then, when the weights are increased, the increment must be proportionally increased for the difference to remain noticeable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

speaking rate.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proportionally speaking" to clarify that you are making a comparison based on ratios or percentages rather than absolute values. For example, "Proportionally speaking, small businesses contribute more to the local economy than large corporations."

Common error

Avoid using "proportionally speaking" when absolute numbers are more relevant or when the proportional relationship is already clear from the context. For instance, don't say "Proportionally speaking, the city has a large population" if the population is simply large in absolute terms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proportionally speaking" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a statement to indicate that it is being considered in terms of proportions or relative amounts, rather than absolute values. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

21%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Proportionally speaking" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that a statement is being made in terms of proportions or ratios. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, academia, and science. It is commonly used to provide context and clarify that a comparison is based on the relative size or amount of something, rather than absolute values. While alternatives like "relatively speaking" and "in proportion" exist, "proportionally speaking" offers a specific emphasis on numerical relationships and is a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively speaking

Focuses on comparison within a specific context, highlighting the relative nature of the statement.

in proportion

Emphasizes the relationship between quantities, often used to indicate a direct correlation.

in terms of proportion

A more formal way of expressing the same concept, emphasizing the mathematical aspect.

when considered relatively

Highlights that the statement is true only when viewed in relation to other factors.

comparatively

Highlights a comparison between two or more things, often used to show differences or similarities.

in comparison to

Sets up a comparison between two distinct items or situations.

on a relative scale

Indicates that the measurement or assessment is based on a comparison to something else.

by comparison

Directly compares two things to highlight their differences or similarities.

considering the ratio

Focuses specifically on the numerical relationship between two quantities.

percentagewise

Specifically relates to percentages and how they compare to each other.

FAQs

How do I use "proportionally speaking" in a sentence?

Use "proportionally speaking" to indicate that you are making a comparison based on proportions or ratios, rather than absolute values. For example: "Proportionally speaking, smaller teams are often more efficient."

What are some alternatives to "proportionally speaking"?

Alternatives include "relatively speaking", "in proportion", or "in terms of proportion". Choose the best fit based on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "proportionally speaking" if the context already implies a proportion?

While not always necessary, using "proportionally speaking" can add emphasis and clarity, especially when comparing different groups or quantities where absolute numbers might be misleading. It explicitly signals a proportional comparison.

What's the difference between "proportionally speaking" and "relatively speaking"?

Both phrases indicate a comparison, but "proportionally speaking" emphasizes ratios and percentages, while "relatively speaking" focuses on a more general comparison within a specific context. For instance, "relatively speaking, the cost is low" implies it's low compared to other options, not necessarily in terms of a specific ratio.