a majority of tests

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a majority of tests" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the results or outcomes of multiple tests, indicating that more than half of them share a particular characteristic or result. Example: "A majority of tests conducted showed a significant improvement in performance after the new training program was implemented."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We found significant correlations between a majority of tests (mean Rho = -0.539) and the total number of failed tests for each patient, indicating that no test had unique predictive value.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

As compared to normative data, and using 1 SD below normative mean as a sign of impairment, patients with DM1 scored worse on a majority of tests (in the normative collectives 16%% of subjects are expected to perform 1 SD below mean).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This confirms the usefulness of our data sets as a resource for evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), since expression of genes present in our transcriptome data is also detectable by in situ hybridization for a majority of tested cases.

BMC Genomics

A majority of testing labs was fairly or very confident (70.6%) in the ability of physicians to determine whether MOT was required; but only a minority (5.9%) was fairly or very confident in referring labs to make this determination.

BMC Health Services Research

A majority of testing labs was also fairly or very confident of their ability to decide which MOT was required (82.4%); again, referring labs and physicians had less confidence regarding their own abilities (59%and34.4%4% respectively were fairly or very confident).

BMC Health Services Research

Wang et al. [ 62] showed that a minority of P. sojae RxLR effectors (including PcRXLR13 and PcRXLR27 homologues, Avh147 and Avh238, respectively) triggered cell death in the host, soybean, or in N. benthamiana, and that a majority of tested P. sojae effectors could suppress the cell death triggered by those effectors.

BMC Genomics

If a data set is known to have particular characteristics such as high levels of noise, etc., then the recommended method will shift to one that is known to function well under that regime, although we note that some methods such as c3PB function well under a majority of tested scenarios.

Genetics

A majority of empirical tests have failed to support the hypothesis that avian nest predation increases near habitat edges.

Biological Conservation

The two regions produced similar ranks across the test features in a majority of the test settings.

Plosone

Using the KH test, FLU proved significantly better than other models for a majority of alignments tested.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

While a majority of the test proteins were chosen at random, we ensured that there were multiple representatives of each tested MP family to examine synthesis yield and extent of liposome association within a family.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a majority of tests", ensure it's clear what characteristic or outcome the majority share. Be specific to avoid ambiguity. For instance, state "A majority of tests showed positive results" instead of just "A majority of tests".

Common error

Avoid assuming "a majority of tests" means nearly all. A majority simply indicates more than half. If the intention is to convey almost all, use phrases like "nearly all tests" or "almost all tests" to more accurately reflect the proportion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a majority of tests" functions as a determiner phrase that quantifies a noun. It specifies that a quantity of tests is greater than half of the total number of tests. Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a majority of tests" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express that more than half of a group of tests share a specific characteristic or result. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable and versatile, fitting comfortably into various contexts, primarily science and news media. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what the tests have in common and avoid assuming it implies "almost all". Consider alternatives like "most of the tests" or "more than half of the tests" for subtle nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most of the tests

Replaces "a majority" with the more common "most", simplifying the phrase while retaining the meaning.

the majority of the tests

Adds "the" before "majority", making the phrase slightly more formal.

more than half of the tests

Replaces "a majority" with the more explicit "more than half", clarifying the proportion.

over half of the tests

Specifies that the number is greater than 50%, providing a clearer numerical threshold.

a large proportion of tests

Substitutes "majority" with "large proportion", emphasizing the size of the group.

a significant number of tests

Replaces "majority" with "significant number", highlighting the importance of the quantity.

the greater part of the tests

Uses "the greater part" to convey the concept of a majority, adding a more descriptive element.

most all of the tests

Combines "most" and "all" to emphasize a very high proportion, slightly exaggerating the majority.

a good deal of the tests

Employs "a good deal" to suggest a substantial portion, though it can be less precise than "majority".

a prevalent number of tests

Uses "prevalent number" to indicate a widespread or common occurrence among the tests.

FAQs

What does "a majority of tests" mean?

The phrase "a majority of tests" means that more than half of the tests conducted have a particular result or characteristic in common. For example, if 6 out of 10 tests show a positive result, then "a majority of tests" are positive.

How can I use "a majority of tests" in a sentence?

You can use "a majority of tests" to indicate a trend or common outcome among a set of tests. For instance, "A majority of tests confirmed the initial hypothesis" shows that most tests supported the hypothesis.

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

You can use alternatives like "most of the tests", "more than half of the tests", or "the majority of the tests" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a majority of tests" and "the majority of tests"?

While both phrases refer to more than half of the tests, "a majority of tests" is less specific and can refer to any instance where more than half meet a condition. "The majority of tests" implies a specific set of tests being discussed or a group already known to the audience.