proportion
A proportion is a part or share of a whole, often compared to the total amount. It can also describe the relationship between the size or amount of two different things.
Examples
3 of 5The proportion of girls to boys in our class is equal.
The number of girls compared to boys in the class is the same.
A large proportion of the city's budget is spent on public transport.
A big part of the city's money is used for buses and trains.
I think the proportion of salt in this soup is way too high.
I feel there is too much salt compared to the other ingredients in the soup.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'PRO' pie chart: A PROportion is a piece of the PROfessional chart showing how the whole is divided.
Quick Quiz
Only a small _______ of the students failed the final test.
Correct!
The correct answer is: proportion
Examples
The proportion of girls to boys in our class is equal.
everydayThe number of girls compared to boys in the class is the same.
A large proportion of the city's budget is spent on public transport.
formalA big part of the city's money is used for buses and trains.
I think the proportion of salt in this soup is way too high.
informalI feel there is too much salt compared to the other ingredients in the soup.
The researchers measured the proportion of oxygen in the water samples.
academicThe scientists calculated how much oxygen was in the water compared to the total liquid.
We need to increase the proportion of our profits that goes into marketing.
businessWe must use a larger share of our earnings for advertising.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
blow things out of proportion
to make a problem seem much bigger than it really is
in proportion to
relative to the size or amount of something else
keep a sense of proportion
to stay calm and understand what is actually important
Often Confused With
A portion is usually a specific amount of food for one person, while proportion is a mathematical relationship or share of a whole.
Usage Notes
The word is commonly followed by the preposition 'of' and a noun. It is often used in statistics to describe groups of people or things.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'proportion' when they simply mean a 'piece' of something physical; use 'portion' for food or physical pieces instead.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'PRO' pie chart: A PROportion is a piece of the PROfessional chart showing how the whole is divided.
Word Origin
From the Latin word 'proportio', which means 'comparative relation' or 'symmetry'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In English-speaking countries, 'proportion' is frequently used in news reports to discuss demographics or economic trends.
Quick Quiz
Only a small _______ of the students failed the final test.
Correct!
The correct answer is: proportion
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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