portion

English translation: portion

08:35 Mar 30, 2017

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Science - Other

English term or phrase: portion

In the following case, some one (from USA) uses plastic portion in the last sentece. But I think plastic part is better.
Materials and Methods: We evaluated 141 unused press tack needles at 6-40 months after the expiration date and 136 needles at 12-0 months before the expiration date (within the warranty period), which were samples or purchased for treatment and stored in the dark with only slight temperature changes. We used the following methods: (1) visual observation at the time of unsealing of the product, (2) compression using the thumb nail, and (3) bending the needle from the plastic portiono (once or twice).
Is portion more natural than part? I always hard to make up my mind which one to choose in similar cases. Thank you!

Mitsuko Yoshida KudoZ activity Questions: 395 (9 open) (17 without valid answers) (4 closed without grading) Answers: 25
Local time: 06:32

Selected answer:portion

Explanation:
It sounds like the item is made of plastic with a metal needle, in which case "portion" is correct. "Part" is not wrong, but it's a less good choice because it can also mean "component", ie the whole thing.

Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States

Grading comment

Thank you very much!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +2

portion

philgoddard

part

magdadh

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

1 hr confidence:

part

Explanation:
Portion is of something uncountable, part is both an element and section. 'Portion' is sounds odd here to me, but maybe it's OK in AmE and this specific subject area...

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Note added at 3 hrs (2017-03-30 11:49:24 GMT)
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To asker:

Interesting. I have just done a quick google search for ''plastic portion of'', ''plastic part of'' and ''plastic section of'' and the results are less conclusive that I would have initially expected, with 80k, 395k and 39k returns respectively. Obviously not all of these will be relevant or correct, but it still indicates that all of these might be used.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2017-03-30 11:49:56 GMT)
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*than* I would have expected

magdadh
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:32
Native speaker of:

Polish

Notes to answerer

Asker: A woman from USA recommended to use portion.

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

portion

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Grading comment

Thank you very much!!

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