a wide majority of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wide majority of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large portion or significant number of a group or population in a specific context, often in discussions about opinions, votes, or consensus. Example: "In the recent survey, a wide majority of participants expressed their support for the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

By contrast, a wide majority of liberal Democrats favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally.

The New York Times

Opinion polls here consistently show that a wide majority of Germans oppose their country's military presence in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

I have felt that a wide majority of people believe that the president is not close to the people.

The Guardian

"All the national polls show a wide majority of Americans support the public option," Mr. Reid said.

The New York Times - Health

And yet, despite the dire national picture, a wide majority of respondents last July still felt that within their local communities, race relations were mostly positive.

The New York Times

Polls suggest a wide majority of Americans support embryonic stem cell research, but many social conservatives in Congress find the use of discarded embryos unacceptable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

And the private market stalls play an important role in supplying this hard-to-find produce to a wider majority of Havana residents, who did not always have the access (or the money) to shop from the farms in the same way as the restaurants.

BBC

While Democrats favored the act, a wider majority of independents and more than 80percentt of Republicans were opposed.

Huffington Post

However, some experts warn that a wide majority cannot get out of this dependence relationship with the government.

The Guardian

The Ethernet standard describes a method of physical communication in a local area network (LAN .A wide majority of computer networks now employ Ethernet as their communication standard; almost every computer sold includes an Ethernet jack for connecting to an Ethernet network.

Alternate Data Storage Forensics

Eric Abner, a Tennis Channel spokesman, said that the "wide majority" of the cable cooperative's members who carried the network under the consortium's old agreement "have chosen to continue to carry it under the new agreement".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wide majority of" when you want to emphasize that a significantly large portion of a group shares a particular opinion, characteristic, or behavior. This phrase is particularly effective in reports, articles, and formal discussions where conveying the extent of agreement or prevalence is important.

Common error

Avoid using "a wide majority of" if the actual percentage is closer to 50% than a clearly dominant portion. Using a more nuanced phrase like "slightly more than half" or "a bare majority" will maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wide majority of" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a significant portion of a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly describes a large segment of a population or collection.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wide majority of" is a phrase used to denote that a considerable portion of a group shares a specific trait or viewpoint. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly when emphasizing widespread agreement. This phrase is commonly found in news, media and scientific publications and is regarded as neutral in tone. While alternatives like "most of" or "a significant proportion of" exist, "a wide majority of" carries a more formal and authoritative feel. When using this phrase, ensure that the actual proportion is indeed significantly large to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant proportion of

Replaces 'majority' with 'proportion', emphasizing the ratio or fraction of the group.

a substantial number of

Focuses on the quantity rather than the comparative aspect of 'majority'.

a large segment of

Substitutes 'majority' with 'segment', highlighting a distinct part of the whole.

most of

A more concise way of expressing that a large portion is included, simplifying the phrase.

the greater part of

Emphasizes the portion that is larger compared to other parts, similar to 'majority'.

a considerable fraction of

Uses 'fraction' to specify the portion, implying it's noteworthy or important.

a good deal of

Indicates a large quantity, although slightly less formal than 'wide majority'.

a high percentage of

Replaces the qualitative 'wide majority' with a quantitative measure.

an overwhelming number of

Emphasizes that the number is so large that it's hard to ignore.

the bulk of

Highlights that the main or largest part of something is being referenced.

FAQs

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

Use "a wide majority of" to indicate that a significantly large portion of a group shares a particular characteristic or opinion. For example, "A wide majority of voters support the new education policy".

What are some alternatives to saying "a wide majority of"?

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

Is there a difference between "a wide majority of" and "a simple majority of"?

Yes. "A wide majority of" implies a significantly large portion, whereas "a simple majority of" just means more than 50%. Therefore, "a simple majority of" represents the minimum needed to pass a vote or express dominance, while "a wide majority of" indicates much stronger support or prevalence.

When is it appropriate to use "a wide majority of" versus "most of"?

Use "a wide majority of" in more formal writing when you want to emphasize the scale of the proportion. "Most of" is suitable for everyday conversation or less formal contexts. The phrase "a wide majority of" carries a more authoritative tone than "most of".