significant portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant portion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to show that something makes up a larger or important amount of a whole. For example, "A significant portion of the profits will go towards charitable causes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But a significant portion probably did not.

The New York Times - Magazine

A significant portion of Chaleur Humaine is about gender identity.

The Guardian - Music

Undoubtedly, work will take a significant portion of these hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The intelligence agency outsources a significant portion of its work).

The New Yorker

So a significant portion is delegated to innovative technology.

The Guardian - Opinion

But a significant portion of the cinematic city goes unsung.

The New York Times

"A significant portion of our people do not make it".

The New York Times

Not all are sympathisers, but a significant portion are.

The Guardian - Opinion

Himachal Pradesh produces a significant portion of India's hydroelectric power.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tourism alone constitutes a significant portion of this amount annually.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It represents a significant portion of any society's economic activities.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significant portion" to highlight that the amount being discussed has importance or impact, not just size.

Common error

Avoid using "significant portion" when the amount is actually quite small or has little real impact. Overstating the significance can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant portion" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a considerable amount or part of something. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significant portion" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a notable part of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, particularly news and media, where it's used to emphasize the importance or impact of a particular amount. While alternatives like "considerable segment" or "substantial fraction" exist, "significant portion" remains a clear and effective choice when highlighting the magnitude or relevance of a specific quantity. The provided writing guidance emphasizes the importance of avoiding overstatement and ensuring clear context for the 'whole' being referenced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major share

Implies a larger part of the whole, using 'share' to represent the portion and 'major' for 'significant'.

material part

Emphasizes the importance of the part, using 'material' to highlight significance.

considerable segment

Replaces 'portion' with 'segment', emphasizing a part of a whole, and uses 'considerable' instead of 'significant'.

prominent segment

Uses 'prominent' instead of 'significant' to emphasize importance or visibility of the segment.

substantial fraction

Uses 'fraction' instead of 'portion', implying a numerical part, and 'substantial' for 'significant'.

noteworthy percentage

Highlights the statistical aspect, replacing 'portion' with 'percentage' and 'significant' with 'noteworthy'.

appreciable quantity

Focuses on the amount rather than the part, using 'quantity' and 'appreciable' to convey a noticeable amount.

remarkable amount

Highlights the notability of the quantity, substituting 'amount' for 'portion' and 'remarkable' for 'significant'.

considerable extent

Focuses on the degree or scope, using 'extent' to represent the reach and 'considerable' for 'significant'.

large chunk

Emphasizes size and informality, using 'chunk' to represent the portion and 'large' for 'significant'.

FAQs

How can I use "significant portion" in a sentence?

Use "significant portion" to indicate that a notable part of something is being discussed. For example, "A significant portion of the budget is allocated to research."

What can I say instead of "significant portion"?

You can use alternatives like "considerable segment", "substantial fraction", or "major share" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "significant portion" or "large portion"?

"Significant portion" emphasizes importance or impact, while "large portion" simply indicates size. Choose based on whether you want to highlight the amount's importance or just its size.

What is the difference between "significant portion" and "appreciable quantity"?

"Significant portion" implies a part of a whole, while "appreciable quantity" refers to a noticeable amount. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing the part-whole relationship or just the amount itself.