Should I use "portion" or "proportion"?

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Asked 1 year, 1 month ago

Modified 1 year, 1 month ago

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I have some balls, and some percentage q \in (0, 100%) of them are green (for example, q = 30% or 1/3). Should I say

"A portion q of the balls are green" or

"A proportion q of the balls are green"?

Or any other way I can express it clearly?

Thank you!

asked May 2, 2022 at 3:59

zxzx179

1012 bronze badges

@Jim Thank you for the comment. I am actually considering a mathematical expression, and whether I should say a portion q or proportion q, where q is a percentage. I have modified my question accordingly.
– zxzx179
May 2, 2022 at 5:24
The word proportion could refer to the fraction of the balls that are green, but couldn't refer to the balls themselves. So, you could say The proportion of balls that are green is 30%. Otherwise, as Jim says,use a portion, which refers directly to the balls.
– Jack O'Flaherty
May 2, 2022 at 10:16

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