proportions

USAGE SUMMARY

'proportions' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it in sentences to refer to how two or more things compare to each other in size, amount, or degree. For example, "The proportions of sugar to water in this recipe are two to one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The academic Alison Wolf has done some fascinating research showing that countries with very good prospects for professional women also have extremely high - 90%-plus - proportions of women doing the very low-paid care work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These are the proportions saying each leader was great: Prime minister Were they great?

The Guardian - Opinion

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACPP) said America was "in the throes of a national crisis" as the Urban League declared a "state of emergency of tremendous proportions".

The Guardian

On the following Sunday, 7 September – while Cameron was visiting the Queen at Balmoral – the referendum finally became a story of global proportions when a YouGov/Sunday Times poll put the yes side in the lead for the first time – by 51% to 49%.

The Guardian

But obviously, with Berlin's raising popularity, and the continuing arrival of (mostly young) people from all over the world to the city, proportions have shifted, certain quarters have become more expensive, and others are inundated with tourists, like Mitte.

The Guardian

Welby described Ebola as a "plague of extraordinary proportions" with reporters "as much at risk as anyone in a war zone".

The Guardian

Their projected tally of 10 seats should be a disaster of epic proportions – and yet, on the exit polls, it would almost be enough to see them renew their coalition vows with the Conservatives.

The Guardian - Opinion

The impetus for conflict minerals legislation stems from resource-fuelled conflicts in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1994 and 2003, which reached near-genocidal proportions, claiming as many as 5 million lives.

The Guardian

A grass-roots movement of remarkable proportions spread the Yes vote across the country.

The Guardian

Doing this would, however, constitute a misjudgment of historical proportions – one that could, in an appalling two-for-one, lose Labour the general election and wipe out the party in Scotland.

The Guardian - Opinion

Losing his seat after 32 years was painful for him, but it was always unlikely that, popular as he was locally, he could insulate himself from a national trend of seismic proportions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proportions" to describe relationships between parts of a whole, such as ingredients in a recipe or demographics in a population.

Common error

Avoid using "proportions" when you specifically mean percentages. "Proportions" refer to the relative amounts, while percentages are a specific way of expressing those amounts as a fraction of 100.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "proportions" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to the relative size, amount, or degree of different parts of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word follows standard grammar rules and is used in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "proportions" is a grammatically sound and commonly used plural noun that describes the relative size, amount, or degree of different elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term adheres to standard grammatical rules and finds frequent application across various contexts, predominantly in news media, formal business settings, and scientific discourse. To ensure clarity, specify the elements being compared and avoid confusing "proportions" with "percentages". When communicating about "proportions", be sure to provide context on their origin and purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ratios

Focuses on the quantitative relationship between two or more amounts.

relative amounts

Emphasizes the amount of something in relation to other amounts.

comparative sizes

Highlights the comparison of the physical dimensions.

relative scales

Indicates the degree or extent of something in comparison to something else.

distribution

Refers to how something is spread out or arranged.

percentages

Expresses a rate or number as a portion of 100.

relative extents

Focuses on the degree to which something reaches or stretches.

comparative quantities

Highlights the amount or number of something in comparison to something else.

relative magnitudes

Focuses on the size or extent of something in relation to something else.

dimensions

Refers to a measurable extent of something.

FAQs

How to use "proportions" in a sentence?

"Proportions" is used to describe the relative size or amount of different parts of a whole. For example, "The "proportions of ingredients" in this recipe are crucial for the final taste."

What can I say instead of "proportions"?

You can use alternatives like "ratios", "relative amounts", or "distribution" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "proportions are" or "proportion is"?

Since "proportions" is a plural noun, the correct form is "proportions are". For example, "The "proportions are carefully measured"".

What's the difference between "proportions" and "percentages"?

"Proportions" refer to the relative amounts of different parts, while "percentages" express those amounts as a fraction of 100. The "percentages reflect the proportions", but they are not interchangeable in all contexts.