a significant plurality of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant plurality of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a large number or proportion of a group, particularly in contexts like surveys, research, or political analysis. Example: "In the recent survey, a significant plurality of respondents indicated that they preferred remote work over in-office arrangements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In the past several years, I've been touched to hear a significant plurality of students name a priority that I didn't hear much when I began teaching, nearly a decade ago: their close relationships with their parents.

The New Yorker

"The mood of, if not the country but a significant plurality of the country, is highly skeptical," said the founder of StopTheDraft.com, Barry Zellen, who has seen traffic to his site jump in recent months.

The New York Times

A splinter group from her party and more than two dozen other smaller parties are contesting the elections, making it possible that a significant plurality of the new Parliament will be controlled by nonmilitary parties.

The New York Times

It shows a significant plurality of Americans self-identifying as "conservative".

Huffington Post

This marks the first time that a significant plurality of Americans have described the economy in positive terms in a CNN/ORC poll since September 2007.

Huffington Post

Gallup found there are now only five states -- Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Alaska -- that have a significant plurality of Republican voters, versus a jaw-dropping 35 for Democrats.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For instance, all but one vignette question held a statistically significant plurality suggesting that a large portion of practitioners are approaching the problem list in a similar manner.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Even in purple states, there are not enough self-identified liberals to elect Democrats without their winning significant pluralities or majorities of moderates.

Huffington Post

If it were held today, an Opinium/Observer poll suggests, the anti-European side would prevail, with a large majority of Conservatives, a plurality of Labour voters and a significant minority of Liberal Democrats voting for a British exit.

The New York Times

Firstly, it is argued that a plurality is always a plurality of things.

SEP

A candidate who wins a plurality of votes in his or her sub-district is elected.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant plurality of", ensure that the context clearly establishes the overall group or population being referenced. This provides clarity about the proportion being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant plurality of" when a majority exists. Plurality means the largest group but not necessarily over 50%. If a majority is present, stating that is more accurate and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant plurality of" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase. It specifies a particular subset of a larger group, emphasizing that this subset is both the largest and notably important. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a large number or proportion within a group.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant plurality of" is a phrase used to describe a notably large portion of a group, although not necessarily a majority. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound. It finds frequent use in news media and scientific contexts, reflecting a need for precision and qualification in describing data and opinions. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure clarity about the overall group and to distinguish it from a majority. Remember, while a plurality is the largest segment, it might still represent less than half of the total, and alternatives like "a considerable number of" or "a substantial portion of" may be appropriate depending on the specific message you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable number of

Emphasizes the quantity being substantial.

a substantial portion of

Highlights the proportion as being significant.

a large segment of

Focuses on the idea of a sizable section within a group.

a notable percentage of

Highlights the percentage as being worthy of attention.

a marked proportion of

Indicates a proportion that is clearly noticeable.

an appreciable fraction of

Focuses on the fraction being large enough to be measured or noticed.

a recognizable contingent of

Emphasizes that the group is identifiable and sizable.

a prominent share of

Highlights that the share is both large and important.

a weighty segment of

Focuses on the segment being substantial in influence or impact.

a meaningful quantity of

Highlights the quantity as possessing importance or consequence.

FAQs

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

Use "a significant plurality of" to indicate that a notably large portion of a group shares a characteristic or opinion, even if it's not a majority. For example, "A significant plurality of voters supports the new policy."

What's the difference between "a significant plurality of" and /s/a+significant+majority+of?

"A significant plurality of" means the largest portion, which may be less than half. "A significant majority of" means more than half of the group.

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

You can use alternatives like "a considerable number of", "a substantial portion of", or "a large segment of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a plurality of" without "significant"?

Yes, it is correct, but adding "significant" emphasizes that the plurality is noteworthy. Without "significant", "a plurality of" simply indicates the largest group, regardless of its size relative to the whole.