Proportion vs. Share: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Proportion refers to a part or fraction of a whole in terms of size, quantity, or degree, whereas Share implies a portion allotted to or belonging to someone in a division of parts.
Key Differences
Proportion signifies a part of a whole, usually expressed as a fraction or percentage, indicating its relative size or significance. Share, in contrast, denotes an individual's or entity's portion of a larger total, often implying ownership or entitlement.
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Proportion is used to describe how one part relates to another or to the whole, emphasizing comparative relations. Share, however, typically refers to the actual allocation or distribution of parts among individuals or groups.
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The concept of proportion is often mathematical or abstract, used in contexts like statistics, design, and composition. Share is more concrete, frequently used in financial and ownership contexts, such as in business or inheritance.
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In discussing proportions, the focus is on the balance or symmetry between parts, which can be qualitative or quantitative. Shares are more about the practical division and distribution of resources or responsibilities.
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Proportion can be subjective and vary based on perspective or criteria, while a share is usually a defined, quantifiable portion allocated to a specific party or purpose.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A part or fraction of a whole based on size or quantity.
A portion allocated to someone as part of a division.
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Context
Often mathematical, relating to ratios or percentages.
Typically financial or related to ownership and distribution.
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Nature
Abstract, emphasizing relational size or significance.
Concrete, implying actual division and entitlement.
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Usage
Used in statistics, design, or describing relationships.
Used in business, finance, or when dividing resources.
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Focus
On the balance or symmetry between parts.
On the practical allocation to individuals or groups.
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Proportion and Share Definitions
Proportion
The proportion of students to teachers is 20:1.
The proportion of sugar in the recipe was reduced.
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Share
The children divided the cake into equal shares.
Her share of the work was the most challenging.
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Proportion
A large proportion of the budget was used for marketing.
A significant proportion of the day was spent in meetings.
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Share
My share of the expenses is one-third.
He accepted his share of the responsibility.
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Proportion
Her income is in direct proportion to her sales.
As the volume increases, the cost decreases in inverse proportion.
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Share
A part or portion belonging to, distributed to, contributed by, or owed by a person or group
The pirates argued over their shares of the treasure.
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Proportion
A part or amount considered in relation to a whole
What is the proportion of helium in the atmosphere?.
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Proportion
A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree
The proper proportion between oil and vinegar in the dressing.
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Share
One of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided
Bought 200 shares of the company's stock.
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Proportion
A relationship between quantities such that if one varies then another varies in a manner dependent on the first
"We do not always find visible happiness in proportion to visible virtue" (Samuel Johnson).
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Share
A unit of ownership in a mutual fund or other investment vehicle
Bought two shares in a mutual fund.
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Proportion
The agreeable or harmonious relation of parts within a whole
The statue seems out of proportion.
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Share
Shares Chiefly British Stocks
European shares jumped two percent. The fund invests half the money in bonds and half in shares.
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Proportion
Often proportions Dimensions; size
First measure the proportions of the room.
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Proportion
(Mathematics) A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, d, are said to be in proportion if a/b = c/d .
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Share
To accord a share in (something) to another or others
Shared her chocolate bar with a friend.
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Proportion
To adjust so that proper relations between parts are attained
Have you proportioned the oil in the dressing properly?.
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Share
To divide and parcel out in shares; apportion
Shared the estate among his heirs.
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Proportion
To form the parts of with balance or symmetry
The artist proportioned the figure nicely.
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Share
To participate in, use, enjoy, or experience jointly or in turns
Share a responsibility.
Share a room.
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Proportion
(countable) A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number.
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Share
To hold or have jointly with another or others
She shares my view about the election.
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Proportion
(uncountable) Harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole.
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Share
To relate (a secret or experience, for example) to another or others.
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Share
(Computers) To make (a digital file) accessible to other users on a network, as for copying and downloading.
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Proportion
The relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree.
The proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body
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Share
To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses
Being in daycare taught the child to share.
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Proportion
The "rule of three", in which three terms are given to find a fourth.
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Share
To use or enjoy something jointly or in turns
There is only one computer, so we will have to share.
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Share
A portion of something, especially a portion given or allotted to someone.
Each of the robbers took a share of the loot.
The TV programme was cancelled because it only gained a 10% share of that night's viewing audience.
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Share
(finance) A financial instrument that shows that one owns a part of a company that provides the benefit of limited liability.
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Share
(computing) A configuration enabling a resource to be shared over a network.
Upload media from the browser or directly to the file share.
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Share
(social media) The action of sharing something with other people via social media.
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Proportion
The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.
The image of Christ, made after his own proportion.
Formed in the best proportions of her sex.
Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory.
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Proportion
Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion.
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Share
(agriculture) The cutting blade of an agricultural machine like a plough, a cultivator or a seeding-machine.
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Proportion
The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.
Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities.
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Share
To have or use in common.
To share a shelter with another
They share a language.
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Proportion
The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; - called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.
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Proportion
The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.
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Proportion
To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.
In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value . . . but to the value our fancies set upon it.
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Share
To allow public or private sharing of computer data or space in a network
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Proportion
To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.
Nature had proportioned her without any fault.
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Share
The part (usually an iron or steel plate) of a plow which cuts the ground at the bottom of a furrow; a plowshare.
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Proportion
The quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
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Share
The part which opens the ground for the reception of the seed, in a machine for sowing seed.
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Share
A certain quantity; a portion; a part; a division; as, a small share of prudence.
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Share
Especially, the part allotted or belonging to one, of any property or interest owned by a number; a portion among others; an apportioned lot; an allotment; a dividend.
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Proportion
Harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design);
In all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance
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Share
Hence, one of a certain number of equal portions into which any property or invested capital is divided; as, a ship owned in ten shares.
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Proportion
Give pleasant proportions to;
Harmonize a building with those surrounding it
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Share
To part among two or more; to distribute in portions; to divide.
Suppose I share my fortune equally between my children and a stranger.
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Proportion
The garden was designed with careful proportion.
The proportions of the building were aesthetically pleasing.
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Share
To partake of, use, or experience, with others; to have a portion of; to take and possess in common; as, to share a shelter with another.
While avarice and rapine share the land.
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Proportion
The proportion of renters to homeowners has increased.
The proportion of renewable energy used is growing yearly.
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Share
To cut; to shear; to cleave; to divide.
The shared visage hangs on equal sides.
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Share
To have part; to receive a portion; to partake, enjoy, or suffer with others.
A right of inheritance gave every one a title to share in the goods of his father.
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Share
Any of the equal portions into which the capital stock of a corporation is divided and ownership of which is evidenced by a stock certificate;
He bought 100 shares of IBM at the market price
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Share
Assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group;
He wanted his share in cash
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Share
The result of parcelling out or sharing;
Death gets more than its share of attention from theologicans
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Share
Any one of a number of individual efforts in a common endeavor;
I am proud of my contribution to the team's success
They all did their share of the work
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Share
Have in common;
Our children share a love of music
The two countries share a long border
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Share
Each member received an equal share of the profits.
She donated her share of the inheritance to charity.
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Share
He owns a significant share of the company.
Investors are looking to buy shares in the new startup.
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Share
They all had a share in the project's success.
She had no share in the decision-making process.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Does proportion imply equality?
Proportion implies a relational comparison, but not necessarily equality.
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How is share used in finance?
In finance, a share represents ownership in a company, usually through stock.
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How do shares relate to dividends?
Shares often entitle the holder to a portion of a company's dividends.
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Do proportions have to be numerical?
While often numerical, proportions can also describe qualitative relationships.
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Is proportion important in architecture?
Yes, proportion is crucial in architecture for aesthetic and functional balance.
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What does proportion mean in mathematics?
In mathematics, proportion refers to the equality of two ratios or fractions.
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Can shares be physical or only financial?
Shares can be both physical (like property) and financial (like stocks).
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Can proportion be subjective?
Yes, proportion can be subjective, especially in design and aesthetics.
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Is a share always equal?
No, shares can vary in size depending on the context and agreement.
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How is proportion used in art?
In art, proportion is used to achieve balance and harmony in composition.
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Can a share be divided further?
Yes, shares can be subdivided further into smaller portions.
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How does proportion affect perception?
Proportion affects how we perceive the size, space, and harmony of elements.
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Why is understanding proportion important in statistics?
In statistics, proportion helps in understanding relative sizes and trends.
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Can proportion be used in daily life?
Yes, proportion is used in daily life in cooking, planning, and organizing.
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Are proportions always fixed?
Proportions can change depending on the context and comparison criteria.
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What is a fair share?
A fair share is an equitable, just portion allocated to an individual or group.
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What is a majority share?
A majority share is more than half of the total shares, giving control over decisions.
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What is a minority share?
A minority share is less than half, usually with limited control or influence.
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Is share always monetary?
No, share can also refer to non-monetary contributions or allocations.
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How do you calculate a share?
A share is calculated based on the total divided by the number of portions.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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