a majority of which

USAGE SUMMARY

'a majority of which' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a group or amount that is larger than the rest and is usually used in relation to a noun that precedes it. For example, "She had ten books, a majority of which were fiction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Monongalia County's rulebook is typical of those at police departments that released their regulations, a majority of which were located away from major cities.

The Guardian

The unit is investigating outstanding receipts worth £1.9bn, a majority of which involve aggressive avoidance schemes.

The Guardian - Business

Meanwhile, our consumption of synthetic chemicals, a majority of which haven't been tested for human health impacts, has skyrocketed.

The New York Times - Books

IKEA uses a lot of cotton (recently as much as 210,000 tons during its fiscal year 2011), a majority of which comes from Pakistan.

The Guardian

The decision to keep Opel is another example of the aggressive approach of G.M.'s board, a majority of which was selected by the Obama administration.

The New York Times

The future of many of the country's 99 nuclear reactors — a majority of which are more than 30 years old — is looking grim.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the oceans are believed to contain more animals than exist on land, a majority of which have never been discovered.

The New Yorker

In the early 21st century, three-fifths of energy consumption was derived from thermal plants burning hydrocarbons (a majority of which were imported).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The College Board, which was founded in 1900, has about 5,900 members, a majority of which are based in the United States.

The New York Times

The university said in a statement that Sports Illustrated outlined allegations involving inappropriate activities and actions, a majority of which occurred from 2001 to '07.

The New York Times - Sports

A survey released last week by Bridge Education Group and StudentMarketing showed that 37percentt of universities and colleges in the United States work with international recruitment agencies, a majority of which are paid by commission.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a majority of which", ensure that the preceding noun is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of 'The findings were analyzed, a majority of which were surprising', specify 'The study presented ten key findings, a majority of which were surprising'.

Common error

Avoid using "a majority of which" when the noun it refers to is unclear or distant in the sentence. This can confuse the reader. Instead, restructure the sentence for clarity. For example, instead of writing 'The project had several phases, a majority of which were behind schedule', specify 'A majority of the project's phases were behind schedule'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a majority of which" functions as a relative clause, introducing additional information about a previously mentioned noun or group. Ludwig's examples show it clarifying the composition or characteristics of that noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a majority of which" is a versatile phrase used to specify that most members of a group share a certain characteristic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by clearly defining the noun it refers to. Alternatives such as "most of which" and "the greater part of which" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. By understanding its proper usage and common pitfalls, you can effectively incorporate "a majority of which" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most of which

This alternative offers a more concise and straightforward way to express the same idea.

the greater part of which

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the significant portion being referenced.

a large proportion of which

This alternative highlights the substantial size of the portion in question.

the majority of those

This version slightly changes the structure, replacing 'which' with 'those' to refer to a specific group.

predominantly which

This alternative emphasizes the prevailing characteristic of the referenced group.

chiefly which

This alternative underlines the main component of the referenced group.

mainly which

This alternative shows the primary aspect of the referenced group.

for the most part which

This alternative indicates that something is generally true, but not entirely.

a significant number of which

This phrase highlights a notable amount of a group.

in most cases which

This alternative describes that the situation is applicable in most situations.

FAQs

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

Use "a majority of which" to refer back to a previously mentioned group, indicating that more than half of that group is being discussed. For example: "The company released several new products, a majority of which were software applications."

What are some alternatives to "a majority of which"?

You can use alternatives such as "most of which", "the greater part of which", or "a large proportion of which", depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the majority of which" instead of "a majority of which"?

Both "a majority of which" and "the majority of which" are grammatically correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "A majority of which" implies that the majority is being introduced as a new piece of information, while "the majority of which" suggests that the majority is already known or understood in the context.

What's the difference between "a majority of which" and "most of which"?

While both phrases indicate that more than half of a group is being referred to, "most of which" is generally considered less formal and more widely applicable. "A majority of which" is more precise and often used in formal writing or legal contexts.