Apportion or Portion: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Both apportion and portion are correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. Apportion is a verb that means to divide and assign resources, whereas portion is a noun referring to a specific share or amount. Using the right word depends entirely on whether you are describing an action or a thing.
The Short Answer
Apportion means to divide and assign, while portion is a share. You must choose the word based on whether you need an action or a noun.
People often confuse these two because they share the exact same root. The prefix 'ap-' in apportion signals action, making it easy to mistake the verb for the noun when writing quickly.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| apportion | Correct verb | You need to describe the act of dividing and assigning shares |
| portion | Correct noun | You are referring to a specific amount or share of something |
| portion | Correct verb | You simply mean to divide or distribute without the nuance of assigning |
| apportionment | Correct noun | You need the noun form of the action of apportioning |
Correct Example Sentences
- The committee will apportion the funds among the three departments.
- She ate a small portion of the large cake.
- We must apportion responsibility fairly among all team members.
- My portion of the inheritance was smaller than expected.
- The teacher will apportion the work according to each student's skill.
- Please take only your portion and leave the rest.
- The judge decided to apportion the blame equally.
- A generous portion of the budget goes to research.
- They apportioned the land based on historical ownership records.
- I will reserve a portion of the garden for wildflowers.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- We need to portion the blame between the two managers.
- We need to apportion the blame between the two managers.
- She received a large apportion of the prize money.
- She received a large portion of the prize money.
- The city council will portion taxes based on property value.
- The city council will apportion taxes based on property value.
- His apportion of the argument was convincing.
- His portion of the argument was convincing.
- They decided to apportion the leftovers onto plates.
- They decided to portion the leftovers onto plates.
- The law requires us to portion resources equally.
- The law requires us to apportion resources equally.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Ask yourself if you are describing an action of assigning shares or naming a specific amount. If you can replace the word with 'divide and assign,' use apportion. If you can swap it with 'share' or 'slice,' use portion. This semantic check prevents grammatical errors.
Related Word Pairs
- Affect vs Effect
- Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence, while effect is usually a noun meaning result.
- Loose vs Lose
- Loose means not tight, while lose means to be deprived of or misplace something.
- Principal vs Principle
- Principal refers to a leader or main amount, while principle is a fundamental truth or rule.
- Ensure vs Insure
- Ensure means to make certain, while insure relates to financial protection against risk.
- Complement vs Compliment
- Complement completes or enhances, while compliment is an expression of praise or admiration.
More Example Sentences
- The manager decided to apportion the overtime hours among the available staff.
- Serve a modest portion of dessert to keep the meal balanced.
- The treaty required the nations to apportion the fishing rights fairly.
- I saved a portion of the profits for future expansion projects.
- It is difficult to apportion credit when many people contribute to a success.
- Each guest received an equal portion of the freshly baked bread.
- The committee will apportion the grant money based on project size.
- Add a small portion of spices to avoid overwhelming the flavor.
- We must apportion our time wisely to complete all tasks on schedule.
- Leave a portion of the garden unplanted to support local wildlife.
Quick Practice
The judge will the costs between the two parties.
apportion
I only ate a small of the pizza because I was not hungry.
portion
It is hard to blame when a team effort goes wrong.
apportion
The recipe calls for a generous of fresh herbs.
portion
They plan to the work according to each person's expertise.
apportion
Please take only your and leave the rest for others.
portion
Frequently Asked Questions
Can portion be used as a verb?
Yes, portion can be a verb meaning to divide or distribute food or items. However, apportion is preferred when the context involves assigning shares or responsibilities formally.
Is apportionment a real word?
Yes, apportionment is the noun form of apportion. It refers to the act of dividing or the result of that division, often used in legal or political contexts regarding representation.
What is the etymological difference?
Both words derive from Latin roots related to parts. Apportion includes the prefix ap-, which intensifies the action of assigning, making it distinct from the simpler noun portion.
Which word is more formal?
Apportion is generally more formal and precise, often found in legal, academic, or business writing. Portion is common in everyday speech and casual writing regarding food or general shares.
