smaller proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller proportion of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or sizes, indicating that one part is less than another in terms of percentage or fraction. Example: "In the recent survey, a smaller proportion of respondents preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A smaller proportion of revenue comes from corporate income taxes.

Britannica

Large parcel owners mowed a smaller proportion of their parcels.

Landscape and Urban Planning

What's more, business pays a smaller proportion of US taxes than it once did.

The Guardian

For example, a smaller proportion of African-Americans have flexible hours.

The New York Times

A smaller proportion of people absconding at the border are being found.

The Guardian

Unemployment insurance spending is consequently a much smaller proportion of gross domestic product.

The New York Times

On the one hand, matchday income is becoming a smaller proportion of the overall pie.

The Guardian - Sport

As budgets get tighter, many services will receive a smaller proportion of the money available.

The Guardian

A smaller proportion of seedlings did not show learning, thus exhibiting the innate response (blue bars).

Nature

A smaller proportion of the people live in Cyrenaica, primarily in Benghazi and other coastal cities.

Britannica

But a smaller proportion of Republican AGs (16 of 28) got involved with defending those bans.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smaller proportion of", ensure the comparison group is clearly defined to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "smaller proportion of" when a simple numerical comparison is more appropriate. The phrase is most effective when highlighting relative sizes or distributions, not just absolute values.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller proportion of" typically functions as a determiner modifying a noun, indicating that the noun represents a smaller fraction or percentage of a larger whole. Ludwig AI's examples illustrate this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smaller proportion of" is a versatile way to express a reduced relative quantity, commonly used across news, science, and encyclopedia sources. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and very common. When using it, ensure that the comparison is clear and contextually relevant. Alternatives include "lower percentage of" and "lesser amount of". Remember that while generally applicable, it’s best suited for highlighting relative sizes within a larger context, not just simple numerical comparisons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower percentage of

Replaces "proportion" with "percentage", offering a more statistical feel.

smaller fraction of

Substitutes "proportion" with "fraction", which is suitable when dealing with parts of a whole.

lesser amount of

Changes the structure to focus on quantity rather than ratio.

reduced share of

Uses "share" instead of "proportion", implying a division or allocation.

minor segment of

Emphasizes that the group being discussed is a small part of a larger whole.

limited quantity of

Focuses on the quantity being small rather than the proportional relationship.

lower incidence of

Suitable when discussing occurrences or events rather than general quantities.

decreased representation of

Applies when discussing the presence of something within a group or category.

a minority of

Simple synonym

a slighter quantity of

Emphasizes quantity using more formal language.

FAQs

How to use "smaller proportion of" in a sentence?

You can use "smaller proportion of" to compare the relative sizes of two groups or quantities. For example, "A "smaller proportion of" students chose to study science compared to previous years".

What can I say instead of "smaller proportion of"?

You can use alternatives like "lower percentage of", "smaller fraction of", or "lesser amount of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "smaller proportion of" or "less proportion of"?

"Smaller proportion of" is generally preferred over "less proportion of". While "less" can sometimes be used with non-countable nouns implying proportion, "smaller" is clearer and more commonly accepted in formal writing.

What's the difference between "smaller proportion of" and "smaller amount of"?

"Smaller proportion of" emphasizes the relative size within a whole, while "smaller amount of" focuses on the absolute quantity. Use "smaller proportion of" when the ratio matters more than the actual number.