a big segment of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big segment of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a large portion or part of a whole, often in discussions about demographics, markets, or groups. Example: "A big segment of the population supports the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"These men are such a big segment of the population".

The New Yorker

A big segment of the news media is now exploiting political correctness for all it's worth.

The New York Times - Sports

A big segment of a creative generation, including Mr. Mapplethorpe, was lost to AIDS.

The New York Times

The only Muslim to vote against the bill was Rehman Chishti, a Conservative; like many other Tories from the provinces, he felt the government had ignored a big segment of traditional and religious-minded voters.

The Economist

"While there is clearly a big segment of Ukip voting leave, I think many are well-natured people simply feeling overworked, misinformed and alienated by a government that has prioritised investment in big cities over their working-class towns," said Adam Smith, a 25-year-old from east Yorkshire who works in online marketing.

The Guardian

So rather than try to convert people who love their iPhones or Android phones, Windows can go after a big segment of the smartphone market — BlackBerry users and those who have not yet switched to a smartphone from other mobile devices.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"We believe there's a pretty big segment of the market that knows there's a difference between the products, but they might not know which one to use," said Mr. Martin of Liquid Wrench.

The New York Times

Lots of singer-songwriters, lots of '90s hip-hop and electronic dance artists, a pretty big segment of current younger jazz musicians, parts of Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, and of course D'Angelo, whose recent round of European concerts after a 12-year absence — camera-phone videos are all over YouTube — has people thinking about how powerful the mixture can get.

The New York Times - Arts

While police and legal dramas often use ripped-from-the-headlines topics as the basis of episodes, rarely do broadcast networks allow themselves to stray into the middle of heated debates that contain such emotional touchstones for large segments of their audience, if only because another big segment of a network's audience is likely to be on the other side of the debate.

The New York Times - Arts

A much bigger segment of those mortgages — about a quarter — are either in default or severely delinquent now.

The New York Times

Beyond the physical damage, big segments of the economy are likely to be frozen for a few days or a week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a big segment of", ensure that the noun following 'of' is plural or uncountable. For example, "a big segment of voters" or "a big segment of the market".

Common error

Avoid using singular nouns after "a big segment of". Incorrect: "a big segment of the population is". Correct: "a big segment of the population are".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big segment of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically quantifying a portion of a larger group or entity. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in diverse contexts. It typically precedes a noun to specify that a significant, but not necessarily majority, part is being referenced.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big segment of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a substantial portion of a larger group or entity. Ludwig examples, supported by Ludwig AI's analysis, confirm its prevalence across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While suitable for various registers, it's crucial to ensure proper noun usage, using plural or uncountable nouns after 'of'. Alternatives like "a large portion of" or "a significant part of" can provide variety in writing. The phrase serves to highlight the size and importance of a specific subgroup within a larger context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large portion of

Focuses on the quantity being large.

a significant part of

Emphasizes the importance of the part.

a substantial section of

Highlights the considerable size and structural division.

a considerable fraction of

Uses "fraction" to denote the part-whole relationship.

a major component of

Focuses on the part being a key element.

a sizable chunk of

Implies a more informal, considerable piece.

a vast amount of

Shifts focus to the quantity being very large.

a notable share of

Emphasizes the portion being worthy of attention.

a good percentage of

Uses specific term percentage, indicating a numerical portion.

a predominant section of

Highlights the part being dominant or more influential than others.

FAQs

How can I use "a big segment of" in a sentence?

Use "a big segment of" to indicate a large portion of a group or whole, as in, "a big segment of the population supports the new policy".

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

You can use alternatives like "a large portion of", "a significant part of", or "a substantial section of" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "a large segment of" or "a big segment of"?

Both phrases are acceptable; however, "a large segment of" might be perceived as slightly more formal than "a big segment of". The choice depends on the desired tone.

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

"A big segment of" implies a sizable portion, while "a majority of" specifically means more than half. "A big segment of" doesn't necessarily mean over 50%.