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proportional and proportionate

Both proportional and proportionate mean properly related in size, degree or other measurable way, i.e. in proportion. However, proportional has a specific mathematical meaning that proportionate doesn’t. For instance, you could say:

  • The field strength is proportional to the transmitted power.
  • The concentration of the final solution is proportional to the amount of solute.
  • The force on the pinion is proportional to the length of the lever and the applied force.

You could not use proportionate in any of these examples.

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Tips include:
but and however
complement and compliment
different from, different than or different to
disinterested and uninterested
fewer and less
persons or people?
round and around
than and then
though and although
while or whilst

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