proportionate to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proportionate to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a relationship where one quantity is in relation to another in a balanced or corresponding manner. Example: "The funding for the project will be proportionate to the number of participants involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nonetheless, the time should be proportionate to the offence.

The Economist

"Our resources are proportionate to smaller numbers".

The New York Times

Are its actions proportionate to the military gain?

The Economist

But, proportionate to its economy, China spends far too little.

The New Yorker

It is not proportionate to what is happening.

The Guardian

It found that the number of women accepted onto programmes was proportionate to the number applying.

The Economist

And was the use of force necessary and proportionate to the threat?

The New Yorker

Maybe the (3:1 male/female ratio) is proportionate to what it is in the industry".

Independent

Suppose countries got a piece proportionate to their share of world population.

The New York Times - Science

Do the changes reflected in your score seem proportionate to the new information?

The New York Times

In general, the severity of the punishment is proportionate to the seriousness of the crime.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proportionate to", ensure that the relationship you're describing is genuinely proportional, meaning that a change in one quantity directly and predictably affects the other. Avoid using it loosely to simply mean 'related' or 'connected'.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "proportionate to" when the relationship between two elements is not directly proportional. For instance, saying "Effort should be proportionate to reward" sounds good, but it's more accurate to use phrase like "related to", "connected to" or "consistent with" unless you can quantify it and demonstrate a true proportional relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proportionate to" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating a relationship of equivalence or correspondence between two entities. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It defines a balanced connection where one thing is in relation to another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proportionate to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase indicating a direct and balanced relationship between two quantities or concepts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its presence across diverse sources like news, science, and formal business suggests versatility. To ensure accuracy, use "proportionate to" when describing relationships where change in one quantity predictably affects another. Alternatives such as "commensurate with" or "in proportion to" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis depending on your context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commensurate with

Indicates a relationship of equivalence or proportionality, often used in formal contexts.

in proportion to

A more literal rephrasing, emphasizing the proportional relationship.

relative to

Focuses on the relationship between things, but is more general and may not always imply proportionality.

corresponding to

Highlights a direct relationship or correspondence.

in line with

Suggests that something aligns or agrees with something else, implying proportionality is followed.

dependent on

Emphasizes the dependence of one thing on another, suggesting proportionality can be a factor.

consistent with

Implies a congruous relationship where the amounts involved are expected and aligned.

equal to

Indicates a direct equivalence in quantity or degree.

matching with

Signifies a similar or corresponding entity, implying a correlation.

equivalent to

Suggests that the amount, value, or function is nearly or completely equal.

FAQs

How do I use "proportionate to" in a sentence?

Use "proportionate to" to indicate that two quantities change in a direct ratio. For example, "The punishment should be "proportionate to" the crime", meaning the severity of the punishment increases as the severity of the crime increases.

What's a good alternative for "proportionate to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "commensurate with", "relative to", or "in proportion to". Each emphasizes a similar, though slightly different, aspect of the relationship between two things.

Is it correct to say "proportional to" instead of "proportionate to"?

Yes, "proportional to" is also correct and often used interchangeably with "proportionate to". Both terms indicate a direct relationship in magnitude or degree, however, "proportionate to" has a more general usage.

What does it mean for something to be "disproportionate to" something else?

When something is "disproportionate to" something else, it means the relationship is not balanced or equal. For example, "The effort was disproportionate to the result" indicates that the amount of effort expended did not yield a result of equal value or magnitude.