a large plurality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large plurality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant number or proportion of a group, often in the context of voting or opinions. Example: "In the recent election, a large plurality of voters supported the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Estimates show that the state was 49.5percentt white in 2003, down 1.5 percentage points from 2002 but still a large plurality.

The New York Times

The People Power Party, which backs him, won a large plurality and claims to have secured party alliances that will allow it to form a coalition government.

The New York Times

And indeed, voter turnout in the local elections was pathetic: in a large plurality of precincts, lower than 20%, often below 10%.

The Economist

Indeed, one recent poll suggests that a large plurality of the public believes that the budget deficit will go up if we go off that cliff.

The New York Times

In the September 7 election Nasheed won a large plurality of votes (45 percent) but not enough to avoid a runoff election against the second-place candidate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The more places that have chronically underemployed workers as a large plurality of the adult workforce, the more likely such decisions become.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Modal realism, in the uncompromising form defended by the American philosopher David Lewis, is the view that there exists a (very large) plurality of worlds, each of which is a spatiotemporally (and therefore causally) closed system, disjoint from all others and comprising its own distinctive collection of concrete particulars, replete with all their properties and relations to each other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A former mayor, senator and vice president, Mr. Estrada was elected with an unusually large plurality in May 1998, over an uninspiring and fragmented field of opponents.

The New York Times

An orderly election on March 6 , 1966 gave Julio César Méndez Montenegro, a law professor and the candidate of the moderate Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario; PR), an unexpectedly large plurality of votes over the candidate of the military regime, though not the absolute majority required for election.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With strong support among Nicaragua's poor, he secured a large enough plurality to defeat conservative candidate Eduardo Montealegre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fourth, Mr. Romney has the support of the large plurality of influential Republicans, meaning that he has plenty of formal and informal surrogates willing to vouch for him and echo his attacks while downplaying the ones made by his rivals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a large plurality" when you want to indicate that a group has the most members or votes, but does not constitute a majority. For example, "A large plurality of voters supported the candidate, but she did not win a majority."

Common error

Avoid using "a large plurality" when you actually mean "a majority". A plurality simply means more than any other group, while a majority means more than half.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large plurality" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI shows examples where this phrase describes a significant, yet non-majority, portion within a larger group, especially in voting or opinion contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a large plurality" is a useful phrase for indicating the largest segment within a group when no segment constitutes a majority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used in news, encyclopedias, and other formal contexts. It's important not to confuse it with "a majority", which implies more than half. Using alternatives like "significant proportion" or "considerable segment" can provide variety, but "a large plurality" is a precise and effective way to convey the concept of a leading, yet non-majority, share.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant proportion

Emphasizes the substantial size of the portion.

considerable segment

Highlights a notable division within a larger group.

substantial fraction

Focuses on the appreciable part of the whole.

appreciable number

Stresses the noteworthy quantity.

sizeable contingent

Suggests a large and distinct group.

major segment

Focuses on highlighting the size.

prominent share

Emphasizes the notable division within a larger group.

notable section

Highlights a portion worth mentioning.

dominant minority

Focuses on the notable amount of people.

remarkable percentage

Highlights a percentage worth mentioning.

FAQs

How can I use "a large plurality" in a sentence?

You can use "a large plurality" to indicate that a group has more members or votes than any other group, but still less than half of the total. For instance: "A large plurality of voters favored the new policy, but it didn't pass due to lack of overall support".

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

"A large plurality" refers to the largest group when no group has over 50%. "A majority" means more than 50% of the total. Thus, it's possible to have a plurality without a majority.

Which is correct, "a large plurality" or "a large majority"?

Both are correct, but they mean different things. "A large plurality" suggests the biggest group among several, but less than half. "A large majority" means a significantly large group constituting well over half.

What are some alternatives to using "a large plurality"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "significant proportion", "considerable segment", or "substantial fraction" to convey a similar meaning.