a bare majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bare majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where a group has just enough votes or support to achieve a decision or outcome, often implying that the margin is very slim. Example: "The proposal passed with a bare majority, indicating that opinions were deeply divided among the members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"That makes a bare majority".

The New York Times

A bare majority of impressive new members is still possible.

The New York Times

Only a bare majority – 57% – thought so in the UK.

The Guardian - Opinion

A bare majority of voters over 60 supported Mr Gore, fewer than backed Mr Clinton.

The Economist

In October 1864, a bare majority of white Marylanders bowed to that new reality.

The New York Times

This would have produced a bare majority in the 129-seat Parliament. 129-seat Parliament

The Economist

By one count, Merkley has a bare majority to get his passed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Of the 73,886,665 shares voted, a bare majority 38,321,496 shares, or 51.8%—were voted in favor of the January Bylaw.

Harvard University

And only a bare majority of Democrats (51percentt) said he would.

The Washington Post

A bare majority agree with General Musharraf's policy of co-operation with the United States.

The Economist

A bare majority of Europeans, 52percentt, supported such action, the poll found.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a bare majority", ensure the context clearly indicates what the majority is related to, such as votes, opinions, or support. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a bare majority" when describing something significantly larger than 50%. This phrase implies the smallest possible margin for a majority, so using it incorrectly can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bare majority" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where something is approved or achieved with the smallest possible margin of votes or support. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a bare majority" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that signifies the smallest possible majority. Ludwig AI shows it's frequently used in news, academic, and scientific contexts to emphasize the narrow margin by which something was achieved. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is clear and that you truly intend to highlight the closeness of the outcome. Alternatives like "a slim majority" or "a narrow majority" can be used for similar effect, but "a bare majority" specifically conveys the sense of a result that was only just secured.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slim majority

Replaces "bare" with "slim", suggesting a slightly more delicate or precarious majority.

a narrow majority

Substitutes "bare" with "narrow", emphasizing the small margin of victory or agreement.

a marginal majority

Uses "marginal" to highlight that the majority is just above the required threshold.

a paper-thin majority

Emphasizes the fragility and precariousness of the majority by using the adjective "paper-thin".

a scant majority

Replaces "bare" with "scant", indicating that the majority is minimal or insufficient.

a razor-thin majority

Highlights the extremely close nature of the majority, suggesting a very small difference.

a slight majority

Uses "slight" to indicate a small and somewhat insignificant majority.

a minimal majority

Replaces "bare" with "minimal", focusing on the fact that the majority is as small as possible.

just over half

Expresses the idea of a bare majority in numerical terms, indicating slightly more than 50%.

a simple majority

Indicates the most basic type of majority, where more than half of the votes are in favor.

FAQs

How can I use "a bare majority" in a sentence?

You can use "a bare majority" to indicate that something was achieved by the smallest possible margin. For example, "The bill passed with "a bare majority", signaling strong opposition."

What is a suitable alternative to "a bare majority"?

Alternatives include "a slim majority", "a narrow majority", or "a marginal majority". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "a simple majority" and "a bare majority"?

"A simple majority" refers to any majority greater than 50%, while "a bare majority" specifically implies the smallest possible majority. Therefore, all bare majorities are simple majorities, but not all simple majorities are bare majorities.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a bare majority"?

Use "a bare majority" when you want to emphasize that something was only just achieved, implying that the outcome was uncertain or contentious. This phrase is fitting when the narrowness of the majority is significant to the context.