a workable majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a workable majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing political or organizational decision-making, where a majority is sufficient to make decisions or pass legislation. Example: "The committee was able to reach a workable majority, allowing them to move forward with the proposed changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Together they have a workable majority over all other parties of 21 seats.

The Economist

Conservative thinkers are focused less on improving this government than on winning a workable majority next time.

The Economist

Mr Calderón has negotiated with the PRI in order to secure a workable majority in the legislature.

The Economist

Only a decisive victory at the polls can yield a workable majority in both houses of parliament.

The Economist

Labor believes it is on track to win 47 seats in the 88 seat parliament, a workable majority but far from a landslide.

The Guardian

To ensure Letta a workable majority, extra support would have to be secured from rebellious senators in, for instance, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and PdL.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Defying opposition parties, opinion pollsters and critics within his ranks (including this writer), he held on to government with a reduced, albeit workable, majority.

The Guardian - Opinion

Modelling the result of the 2010 general election minus Scotland's 59 Westminster seats would have seen David Cameron secure a modest but workable majority of 21.

BBC

Jose Manuel Barroso, outgoing president of the European Commission, stressed that the pro-EU blocs still had "a very solid and workable majority".

BBC

That included pushing through legislation during his recent term in office which shut down hundreds of Islamic schools, and purging lots of over-devout civil servants.So, if the Islamists are indeed to be excluded from government, at least three secular parties may have to glue themselves together to form a workable parliamentary majority.

The Economist

Since the Free Democrats and the Greens will probably each win no more than 5-7%, it might be that neither side has a workable parliamentary majority.Mr Schröder once said that he would be ready to form a red-Green government of Social Democrats and environmentalists, even if it had a majority of only one though he has since made clear that this was some kind of a joke.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to emphasize that the majority is not just numerical, but also capable of achieving practical outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "a workable majority" when simply referring to a large group; the phrase implies the group's capacity to enact change or govern effectively, not just its size.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a workable majority" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates it describes a majority large and cohesive enough to accomplish its goals.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

14%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a workable majority" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a situation where a group has enough support to effectively govern or make decisions. Ludwig confirms that this noun phrase is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as encyclopedic entries. While alternatives like "viable majority" or "effective majority" exist, "a workable majority" emphasizes the practical capability of the group to achieve its objectives. Be sure to consider the scope of the phrase and avoid using it to merely describe a large group without the implied capacity to enact change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achievable majority

Replaces 'workable' with 'achievable', focusing on the attainability of the majority.

viable majority

Substitutes 'workable' with 'viable', emphasizing the feasibility and sustainability of the majority.

practical majority

Replaces 'workable' with 'practical', highlighting the usefulness and real-world applicability of the majority.

effective majority

Changes 'workable' to 'effective', focusing on the impact and successfulness of the majority.

governing majority

Replaces 'workable' with 'governing', specifying that the majority is capable of leading or ruling.

controllable majority

Substitutes 'workable' with 'controllable', suggesting that the majority can be managed or influenced.

manageable majority

Replaces 'workable' with 'manageable', indicating that the majority is easy to handle and direct.

functional majority

Changes 'workable' to 'functional', emphasizing the operational and efficient nature of the majority.

sufficient majority

Replaces 'workable' with 'sufficient', underscoring that the majority is enough to achieve a specific goal.

adequate majority

Substitutes 'workable' with 'adequate', indicating that the majority meets the minimum requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "a workable majority" in a sentence?

You can use "a workable majority" to describe a situation where a group has enough votes or support to effectively govern or make decisions. For example: "The new coalition government has "a workable majority" in parliament, allowing them to pass legislation easily."

What are some alternatives to "a workable majority"?

Some alternatives to "a workable majority" include "achievable majority", "viable majority", or "effective majority", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean for a government to have "a workable majority"?

For a government to have "a workable majority" means it has enough seats in the legislature to pass laws and implement its policies without facing constant opposition or gridlock. This does not guarantee success, but enhances stability and efficiency.

Is "a workable majority" the same as an absolute majority?

No, "a workable majority" implies that the majority is sufficient to govern effectively, while an absolute majority refers to having more than half of the total votes or seats. "A workable majority" may sometimes require support from other parties to achieve its goals.