a close majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a majority is achieved by a small margin, often in voting or decision-making contexts. Example: "In the recent election, the candidate won by a close majority, securing just a few more votes than their opponent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ms. Martin won in a close, majority decision, although in a YouTube clip from the match, she appears to be taking a beating.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The reality is that Newt was trying to hold together a very close majority," said Bob Walker, a former Republican congressman who remains a close ally of Mr. Gingrich, "and that meant sometimes you had to do things that were popular across the whole conference, and not just the things that a handful of conservatives wanted".

The New York Times

A close inspection of majority of them revealed sequences with an identity of 100% where the Kn/Ks ratio was 0/0.

BMC Genomics

The aide, Shane Hedges, left, was a close friend of the majority leader, Representative Paul Sliter.

The New York Times

I'd laugh at jokes that weren't funny and tell anecdotes about my time in the service and strongly imply I was a C.I.A. agent and a close friend of the Senate Majority Leader.

The New Yorker

On one side, the incumbent of two dozen years: Mr. Reid, 70, the Senate majority leader, a close ally of President Obama and, behind the scenes, a flinty, old-school Nevadan.

The New York Times

Mesi got his expected victory, but it was unexpectedly close, a majority 10-round decision over Monte Barrett of Queens in which he was knocked down in the seventh round and had his left eye completely closed.

The New York Times - Sports

Studies have found that a high proportion of individuals with GERD perceive their symptoms to be due to a trivial condition, and recently research has found that a large majority (close to 78%) of patients with undiagnosed GERD symptoms relied on OTC medications to alleviate their symptoms [41].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

In addition, the company said it would close a majority-owned British unit, with 64 employees.

The New York Times

The mood was darkest at just after 1am with the news that the young, Conservative candidate Chris Skidmore had overturned a majority close to 8,000 to take Kingswood, near Bristol.

The Guardian

Recent polls have shown a majority — close to 70percentt in some soundings — favoring an early British withdrawal from the conflict.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a close majority", ensure the context clearly indicates what the majority pertains to, such as votes, survey results, or market share. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a close majority" implies weakness or instability. While it indicates a narrow margin, it still represents a prevailing decision. Instead, focus on analyzing the factors that contributed to the close result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close majority" functions as a noun phrase, typically modifying a verb or another noun to describe the manner or outcome of a vote, election, or other decision-making process. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a close majority" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe a situation where a decision or result is achieved by a narrow margin. As noted by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, where it conveys both the outcome and the potentially precarious nature of the victory. Alternatives like "a narrow majority" or "a slim majority" can be used to add further nuance. When using this phrase, clarity in the context is crucial to prevent misinterpretations. While "a close majority" indicates a small difference, it does not automatically imply instability but rather warrants a careful consideration of contributing factors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a narrow majority

Focuses on the small difference between the winning and losing sides.

a slim majority

Highlights the tenuous nature of the majority.

a marginal majority

Emphasizes that the majority is barely over the required amount.

a razor-thin majority

Implies an extremely small and precarious majority.

a slight majority

Indicates the majority is small and not substantial.

a bare majority

Suggests the majority is just sufficient to achieve a result.

a hard-won majority

Emphasizes the effort required to achieve the majority.

a contested majority

Highlights that the legitimacy or implications of the majority are disputed.

an effective majority

Focuses on the ability of the majority to achieve its goals.

a working majority

Highlights that the majority is sufficient for practical purposes.

FAQs

How to use "a close majority" in a sentence?

You can use "a close majority" to describe a situation where a decision is reached with a small margin, for example: "The bill passed with "a close majority" in the Senate".

What can I say instead of "a close majority"?

You can use alternatives like "a narrow majority", "a slim majority", or "a slight majority" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a close majority" or "a large minority"?

The choice depends on what you want to emphasize. "A close majority" highlights that a decision was reached, albeit narrowly. "A large minority" emphasizes the significant opposition or support that didn't prevail. They describe different aspects of the same situation.

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

"A simple majority" just means more than half of the votes. "A close majority" specifies that the majority was achieved by a small margin, regardless of whether it was a simple or some other form of majority.