a substantial majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a substantial majority' is correct and can be used in written English.
The phrase can be used to describe a large number of people or things that form a majority. For example, "A substantial majority of the population voted in favor of the new law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Opinion polls systematically show a substantial majority against Trident.

The Guardian - Opinion

A substantial majority of Americans favored the outcome.

The New York Times

A substantial majority of California's high school juniors do participate in the EAP in English.

Stanford University

Ensure that a substantial majority or all board members, other than the CEO, are independent.

Harvard University

Polls show a substantial majority of Americans support embryonic stem cell research.

The New York Times

A substantial majority of the electorate admired him and trusted his leadership in crises.

The New York Times - Books

A substantial majority has coalesced among Republican and Democratic senators in support of education reform.

The New York Times

A substantial majority were in favour of punishing Briatore but Bernie was in a minority".

The Guardian - Sport

When you actually put together "moderates and "liberals" you have a substantial majority.

The New Yorker

A substantial majority of Tory MPs would once have gone to public schools.

The Guardian

In the new Senate, support for McCain-Feingold has grown to a substantial majority.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantial majority" when you want to emphasize that a group significantly outnumbers others, implying a strong level of agreement or support.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial majority" when the actual percentage is only slightly above 50%. Ensure the majority is significant enough to warrant the adjective 'substantial'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial majority" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object in a sentence. It denotes a significant and noticeably large proportion of a group, indicating that a considerable number are in agreement or share a specific trait. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a substantial majority" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a significantly large portion of a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. It's most frequently found in news and media, academic writing, and scientific publications, indicating its versatility across different registers. When using this phrase, ensure that the majority is truly significant to avoid overstatement. Alternatives like "a considerable portion" or "a significant number" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. By understanding these elements, you can effectively integrate "a substantial majority" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable portion

Replaces 'majority' with 'portion', focusing on the part rather than the group dominating it; 'considerable' is similar to 'substantial'.

a significant number

Emphasizes the size of the group rather than its dominance as a majority; 'significant' is close to 'substantial'.

a large segment

Uses 'segment' to depict a group or a part and 'large' is used as a replacement for 'substantial'.

a sizable contingent

Substitutes 'majority' with 'contingent', indicating a group and 'sizable' replaces 'substantial'.

the greater part

Replaces 'substantial majority' with a more general term, 'greater part', indicating more than half.

most of

This is a shorter, less formal way to express 'a substantial majority'.

the bulk of

Highlights the large size or volume of the group being referred to.

a dominant share

Focuses on the dominance or proportion held by the group.

a prevailing number

Emphasizes the prevalence or commonality of the number.

a dominant fraction

Similar to 'dominant share' but using 'fraction' to emphasize the part of a whole.

FAQs

How to use "a substantial majority" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantial majority" to indicate that a large portion of a group agrees on something or has a particular characteristic. For example, "A substantial majority of voters supported the new policy".

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

You can use alternatives like "a considerable portion", "a significant number", or "most of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a substantial majority" or "a considerable majority"?

Both "a substantial majority" and "a considerable majority" are correct, but "substantial" often implies a more significant or impactful majority than "considerable".

What's the difference between "a substantial majority" and "a simple majority"?

A "simple majority" means more than 50% of the votes or members, while "a substantial majority" suggests a much larger, more decisive proportion.