a large plurality of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large plurality of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant number or proportion of a group or category, often in contexts like surveys, elections, or demographics. Example: "In the recent election, a large plurality of voters favored the new candidate over the incumbent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

But a large plurality of voters (45.3percentt) did not identify with any party.

The Washington Post

Polls suggest that his coalition will win a large plurality of congressional seats, if not an outright majority.

The Washington Post

Whether Mr. Trump would lose the nomination if he entered the convention with a large plurality of delegates is a separate question.

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

At the convention, Strom won a large plurality on the first ballot, finishing with nearly three times of the votes of the second place Taylor.

Wikipedia

Meanwhile, a large pluralities of the public continue to falsely believe that the Obamacare includes so-called death panels that would ration health care for Medicare enrollees, reduce what Medicare covers, provide health benefits to undocumented immigrants and create a government-run "public option" health insurance program to compete with private companies.

HuffPost

Fed up with vacuous slogans and broken promises from mainstream candidates, a large plurality (38.5percentt) of the electorate has elected Rodrigo Dutetre -- the firebrand mayor of Davao City, and a self-described "socialist" -- as the next president of the Republic of the Philippines.

Huffington Post

A large plurality (49percentt) of Republicans — no surprise there!

The Washington Post

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a large plurality of", ensure the context clearly indicates that while the group is significant, it does not constitute an absolute majority. For instance, in election results, it clarifies that the winner didn't get over 50% of the vote, but still got more than anyone else.

Common error

Avoid using "a large plurality of" when you actually mean a majority. Plurality simply means more than any other group, not necessarily more than half. Using it incorrectly can mislead your reader about the scale you are describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large plurality of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a significant but non-majority portion of a group or category is being discussed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a large plurality of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a significant portion of a group, without it necessarily constituting a majority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase across different contexts. Its usage is particularly prevalent in news, encyclopedias, and scientific domains. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the subtle distinction between plurality and majority to ensure accurate communication. Alternatives like "a significant proportion of" or "a considerable number of" may serve as useful substitutions depending on the intended emphasis. By avoiding the confusion between plurality and majority, one can effectively clarify complex statistical or analytical information for the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant proportion of

Emphasizes the importance of the fraction of the whole, rather than just the size of the group. The emphasis is now on ratio.

a considerable number of

Highlights the quantity, suggesting that the amount is noteworthy but does not necessarily comprise a majority.

a substantial fraction of

Focuses on the noteworthy portion, suggesting it's more than a mere segment but stops short of being an absolute majority.

a sizable segment of

Indicates that an identifiable part is quite big.

a good percentage of

Highlights that the ratio is favorable or at least worthy of note, and it's especially used in survey and polls.

a major portion of

Indicates the relevancy of the fragment, but does not express the fact that is greater than other options/fragments.

a notable section of

Emphasizes the importance and remarkableness of that portion.

a dominant share of

Suggests that the share is leading or commanding, although not necessarily the majority.

a prevailing segment of

Indicates prevalence more than mere size, so it's about diffusion in a specific contest.

a healthy amount of

Focuses on the well-being and satisfactoriness of a quantity, and it's not necessarily linked to elections or surveys.

FAQs

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

Use "a large plurality of" to indicate that a group is the biggest, but not necessarily a majority. For example, "A large plurality of voters supported the independent candidate, though she didn't win a majority."

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

"A large plurality of" indicates the largest group without necessarily being over 50%, while "a majority of" means more than 50%.

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

Both are correct, but they mean different things. Use "a large plurality of" when referring to the biggest group among several, and "a large majority of" when referring to more than half of a group.

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant proportion of", "a considerable number of", or "a substantial fraction of" depending on the context.