significant proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

"significant proportion" is a perfectly correct and appropriate phrase to use in English writing.
You could use it to refer to a large enough percentage of something that it may have a big impact or influence. For example, "The recent survey revealed that a significant proportion of the population felt strongly about this issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, a significant proportion of the P.L.O.

The New Yorker

Of those, a significant proportion were civilians.

The Guardian

A significant proportion will never return.

The Guardian

False personal injury claims constitute a significant proportion of this.

The Guardian - Money

A significant proportion are yet to make up their minds.

The Guardian - Business

A significant proportion is also available for investment or savings.

The Guardian

A significant proportion of APP exports are to Europe.

The Guardian

A significant proportion of the comments denigrated and dismissed her.

The Guardian

These losses represent a significant proportion of their income.

The Guardian

McDermott explains: "A significant proportion of European gas comes from Russia and a significant proportion of that transports across Ukraine.

The Guardian

A significant proportion of the American electorate doesn't vote.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant proportion", ensure it's followed by a 'of + noun' phrase to clarify what you're referring to. For example: "A "significant proportion" of the budget was allocated to research."

Common error

Avoid using "significant proportion" when the actual percentage or amount is quite small. If the proportion is, say, less than 10%, consider using a less emphatic phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant proportion" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that a considerable part or percentage is being referred to. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

24%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant proportion" is a versatile phrase used to denote a noteworthy fraction or percentage of a whole. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is grammatically sound, commonly found across diverse contexts such as news, scientific research, and academic writing. While alternatives exist, such as "substantial fraction" or "notable percentage", the choice depends on the specific nuance one wishes to convey. When using "significant proportion", it's important to ensure the context warrants the emphasis on importance and size, avoiding its application to truly minor amounts. Keep in mind, as it represents a well-established expression in English, mastering its employment can result very useful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sizeable portion

Replaces 'proportion' with 'portion' and 'significant' with 'sizeable', highlighting the size of the part.

substantial fraction

Replaces 'proportion' with 'fraction', implying a part of a whole that is large and important.

notable percentage

Substitutes 'significant' with 'notable' and 'proportion' with 'percentage', highlighting the remarkability of the quantity.

considerable segment

Uses 'segment' instead of 'proportion', suggesting a distinct part or section that is sizable.

large fraction

Uses 'large' as a more direct synonym for 'significant', maintaining the idea of a notable part.

appreciable quantity

Replaces both words to focus on the amount being large enough to be noticed or have an impact.

meaningful share

Emphasizes the importance of the portion by using 'meaningful', indicating it has consequence.

respectable amount

Suggests that the quantity is large enough to be worthy of consideration or respect.

major part

A more direct and less formal way of saying "significant proportion".

noticeable segment

Highlights the visibility or obviousness of the portion or segment.

FAQs

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

You can use "significant proportion" to indicate that a notable amount or percentage of something is being discussed. For example, "A "significant proportion" of the survey respondents preferred the new design."

What are some alternatives to saying "significant proportion"?

Alternatives include phrases like "substantial fraction", "notable percentage", or "considerable segment", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "significant proportion" or "large proportion"?

"Significant proportion" and "large proportion" are often interchangeable, but "significant" implies a degree of importance or impact beyond just size. Choose based on whether you want to emphasize size or importance.

What does "significant proportion" mean?

The phrase "significant proportion" refers to a noticeably large part or percentage of a whole, implying that the amount is important or impactful in some way.