a big plurality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big plurality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant number or majority of something, often in contexts like voting, opinions, or demographics. Example: "In the recent election, a big plurality of voters chose the candidate who promised to reform healthcare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Republican opposition to his nomination would fade, too, if he had a big plurality built by a lot of state majorities.

Los Angeles Times

Almost entirely because of Obama's endorsement, Rahm won a big plurality among African-American voters in the first vote and in the early polling right afterwards, but the dynamics are changing dramatically in the African-American wards.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In one election, it gave Gov. George E. Pataki his biggest plurality of any county.

The New York Times

If the map goes the Democrats' way, it could cost the Republicans three or four seats, representing a big chunk of the G.O.P.'s 45-35 pluraliny in the Assembly.

The New York Times

VR will need to knock something else off its pedestal to grab a big chunk of their time without the benefit of plurality.

TechCrunch

Separately, Richards said plurality of provision in the media was a "critical idea in a modern democracy" and it was a "big positive" from the Leveson inquiry that it had been put back on the agenda.

The Guardian

(MoH1) …It was a big mistake, big, big mistake.

BMJ Open

Another time, it produced President Ronald Reagan's biggest county plurality nationally, political historians say.

The New York Times

It once gave Gov. George E. Pataki his biggest county plurality in the state.

The New York Times

Another time, it gave Ronald Reagan his biggest county plurality in the entire nation.

The New York Times

It is difficult to be a plurality, a complex being, if you are a woman.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a big plurality" when you want to emphasize that a group is significantly larger than any other single group, but still less than an absolute majority. Ensure the context clearly indicates the nature of the groups being compared (e.g., votes, opinions).

Common error

Avoid using "a big plurality" when an absolute majority is present. A plurality only means 'more than any other group', not 'more than half'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big plurality" functions as a noun phrase, where "big" modifies the noun "plurality". According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe a situation where a particular group or option has more support than any other single group or option, but less than a majority. The examples show its use in political contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big plurality" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that one group has more members or votes than any other single group but doesn't constitute a majority. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, though examples are relatively rare, mostly appearing in news and scientific contexts. While often interchangeable with "significant plurality" or "large plurality", it's crucial not to confuse it with "majority", which requires more than 50% support. When crafting content, it's recommended to use the phrase in contexts where the distinction between a plurality and a majority is relevant, ensuring clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant plurality

Replaces "big" with "significant", maintaining the meaning of a noteworthy but not majority portion.

large plurality

Substitutes "big" with "large", offering a similar connotation of size or magnitude.

substantial plurality

Replaces "big" with "substantial", indicating a considerable amount or size.

considerable plurality

Uses "considerable" in place of "big", suggesting a notable or significant amount.

marked plurality

Employs "marked" to emphasize that the plurality is distinct and noticeable.

notable plurality

Replaces "big" with "notable", highlighting that the plurality is worthy of attention.

clear plurality

Specifies that the plurality is easily distinguishable and unambiguous.

strong plurality

Indicates that the plurality is powerful or influential.

sizeable plurality

Substitutes "big" with "sizeable", focusing on the magnitude of the plurality.

healthy plurality

Implies that the plurality is robust and vigorous, often in the context of opinions or viewpoints.

FAQs

How to use "a big plurality" in a sentence?

You can use "a big plurality" to describe a situation where one group has significantly more members or votes than any other single group, but still less than half of the total. For example: "A big plurality of voters supported the reform, but it didn't reach a majority."

What can I say instead of "a big plurality"?

You can use alternatives like "significant plurality", "large plurality", or "substantial plurality" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a big plurality"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase is formed by using the adjective "big" to modify the noun "plurality". It's used to emphasize the size or significance of the plurality.

What's the difference between "a big plurality" and "a majority"?

A "majority" means more than 50% of the total. A "big plurality" means more than any other single group, but not necessarily more than half of the total. It's possible to win an election with a "big plurality" even if most voters supported other candidates.