a small plurality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small plurality" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a group or category has a slightly larger number than others, but not a majority. Example: "In the recent election, the candidate received a small plurality of the votes, winning by just a few hundred ballots."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Even a small plurality of Republicans think Roe should stand.

The New York Times

Somehow, though, the official results gave Shevardnadze's party a small plurality.

The New Yorker

One poll has Proposition 19 winning narrowly, another shows a small plurality against it (see chart).

The Economist

In February 1936 Spanish voters elected, by a small plurality, a center-left coalition of Socialists, Communists, Republicans and Anarchists.

The New York Times - Arts

Last month, managers were reducing risk; now a small plurality (2%) is increasing it.A net 46% of managers are overweight equities.

The Economist

This summer, one widely watched part of the Institute for Supply Management survey showed that a small plurality of companies reported new orders were falling, a fact that helped to stimulate talk of a double-dip recession.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It also means that a movie could win with a very small plurality — there are no runoffs in the balloting.

The New Yorker

A quick practicality: it's worth mentioning that the Best Picture category is chosen by an elaborate system of ranked voting that's meant to prevent a winner from squeaking by with a very small plurality of votes.

The New Yorker

There was a nearly uniform response over all seven levels of agreement or disagreement, with a very small plurality agreeing that religion and science can peacefully co-exist (28.4% versus 24.3%) although when the data were split by whether the Fellows belonged to the biological or physical sciences there were different results (see Table 2).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

While a majority of participants indicated that they accepted evolution, a slightly smaller plurality accepted human evolution.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

But it's actually not the — it's — it's kind of like a modest plurality.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small plurality" to accurately describe situations where one option has more support than others, but not a majority. This is particularly useful in political analysis, market research, and scientific surveys where precise language is important.

Common error

Avoid using "a small plurality" when you actually mean a majority. A plurality simply means having more than any other single option, not necessarily more than half of the total.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small plurality" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object within a sentence. It describes a situation where one option has more support than others, though not a majority. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small plurality" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a situation where one option has slightly more support than others, without achieving a majority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used in news, media, and scientific contexts to provide a nuanced understanding of data. While not as frequent as other similar phrases, its precision makes it valuable in specific situations. Be sure to distinguish it from "a majority" and use it when you need to describe a narrow lead. Alternatives include "a slight majority" or "a narrow margin".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a close plurality

Similar to the original phrase but emphasizes the proximity to other groups.

a modest plurality

Replaces 'small' with 'modest', suggesting a moderate amount.

a slight majority

Indicates a marginal numerical advantage, shifting from not being a majority to barely being one.

a fractional plurality

Emphasizes the small part of the overall amount.

a narrow margin

Focuses on the closeness of the difference, rather than the size of the group.

a slim lead

Emphasizes the tenuous nature of the leading position.

a limited plurality

Focuses on the restrictive quantity of items.

a marginal advantage

Highlights the minimal extent of the superiority.

a near plurality

Highlights how the items are approaching a plurality.

a razor-thin edge

Illustrates the extreme precariousness of the lead, suggesting it could easily disappear.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small plurality" to describe a situation where one group has slightly more votes, opinions, or items than any other individual group, but still less than half the total. For example: "The candidate won with "a small plurality" of the votes."

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

"A small plurality" indicates that the leading group has only a slightly larger number than the others, while "a large plurality" suggests a more substantial lead, though still not a majority.

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

You can use alternatives like "a slight majority", "a narrow margin", or "a slim lead" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "a small plurality" in formal writing?

Yes, "a small plurality" is a correct and appropriate phrase for formal writing, especially when discussing data, elections, or surveys where precision is important.