a clear plurality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a clear plurality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is a distinct majority or a significant number of different elements or opinions present. Example: "In the recent survey, the results showed a clear plurality of respondents favoring renewable energy sources over fossil fuels."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Since winning a clear plurality in a general election nearly a year ago, their popularity has been dipping.Hardline Brothers may be tempted to respond by gripping onto power even more tightly.

The Economist

A clear plurality said yes.

The New York Times

This year, a clear plurality says no. Somehow they find a race between two androids less than scintillating.

The New York Times

If both parties had got equal votes in the last general election, Labour would have won a clear plurality of the seats.

The Guardian - Opinion

Polling on the debt limit, which at earlier points had appeared to show a clear plurality of Americans against any increase, has now become highly ambiguous, with widely varying results depending on question wording.

The New York Times

Mr. Maliki's party won a clear plurality in the large provinces of Baghdad and Basra, both places where the prime minister waged military campaigns last year to halt the activities of mostly Shiite militias.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

On the one hand, in a case where one candidate had a fairly clear plurality of delegates, but not an outright majority, uncommitted delegates (especially super delegates) could align behind them to give them their majority.

The New York Times

Cable said ministers should remain in charge of some competition issues and called for a clear definition of plurality in terms of media ownership.

The Guardian

If you include the net third-party vote, the plurality becomes a clear center-left majority.

The New Yorker

Pheu Thai is more likely to win a plurality than a clear majority and then try to entice a few small, venal parties into a governing coalition.

The Economist

This gadfly irritation can be negated in the future with a simple rule: the winner of a state's electoral votes must have a clear majority, not just a plurality, of all votes cast.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a clear plurality", ensure the context makes it obvious that you are referring to a situation where one option has more votes or support than any other single option, but not necessarily a majority. Use it when precision about numbers is less critical than highlighting the leading position.

Common error

Avoid using "a clear plurality" when you actually mean a majority. A plurality simply means having more than any other option, whereas a majority means having more than 50% of the total.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a clear plurality" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a situation where one option has noticeably more votes or support than any other single option, but not necessarily a majority.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a clear plurality" is a grammatically sound and acceptable phrase used to describe a situation where one option or candidate has more votes or support than any other, without necessarily holding a majority. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are not confusing it with "majority", and that you want to highlight relative rather than absolute dominance. If you need to slightly alter it, consider alternatives like "a distinct plurality" or "a significant plurality".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a distinct plurality

Replaces "clear" with "distinct", emphasizing the separateness of the plurality.

a significant plurality

Replaces "clear" with "significant", highlighting the importance of the plurality.

a substantial plurality

Replaces "clear" with "substantial", emphasizing the size of the plurality.

a marked plurality

Replaces "clear" with "marked", suggesting that the plurality is easily noticeable.

a considerable plurality

Replaces "clear" with "considerable", highlighting the amount or degree of the plurality.

a definite plurality

Replaces "clear" with "definite", reinforcing the distinctness of the plurality.

a noticeable plurality

Replaces "clear" with "noticeable", pointing out that the plurality is easily observed.

a decisive plurality

Emphasizes that the plurality is consequential in influencing a decision.

a strong plurality

Replaces "clear" with "strong", indicating power or influence of the plurality.

a simple plurality

Indicates the winning alternative is determined by the highest vote total without needing a majority.

FAQs

How is "a clear plurality" used in political contexts?

In politics, "a clear plurality" often describes election results where one candidate receives more votes than any other, but not necessarily a majority. For example, "The candidate won "a clear plurality" of the votes, securing the most support, but a runoff election might still be needed if they didn't achieve a majority."

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

"A clear plurality" means receiving more votes or support than any other single option, but less than half of the total. A simple majority, on the other hand, means receiving more than 50% of the votes or support. Therefore, winning "a clear plurality" does not guarantee an outright win, while achieving a simple majority does.

Are there situations where achieving "a clear plurality" is sufficient?

Yes, in some electoral systems or decision-making processes, winning "a clear plurality" is enough to secure a victory or decision, even without a majority. This is common in multi-candidate elections or when a specific rule stipulates that the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have more than 50%.

What are some alternatives to saying "a clear plurality"?

Depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, you can use alternatives like "a distinct plurality", "a significant plurality", or "a substantial plurality". These options emphasize different aspects of the plurality's importance or size.