an overwhelming proportion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overwhelming proportion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or dominant percentage of a particular group or category in various contexts, such as research, statistics, or general observations. Example: "In the survey, an overwhelming proportion of respondents indicated that they preferred online shopping over traditional retail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The combined targeting of Gingrich comprises an overwhelming proportion of the advertising in Florida".

The Guardian

That year his resort saw nearly 80,000 visits, an overwhelming proportion of them snowboarders.

The New York Times - Travel

The United States relies on the route for an overwhelming proportion of its supplies for the war in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

And even though an overwhelming proportion of Ukip supporters voted Tory in 2010, many had traditionally backed Labour before that.

The Guardian

To reverse this debacle, I suggest two tax increases that would be supported by an overwhelming proportion of the voters.

The New York Times

Among the general public, 68% considered US science education average or below average, and an overwhelming proportion of scientists, 84%, agreed with them.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

This illustrates a useful feature of the expenses scandal for empirically examining electoral accountability for representative misconduct: the fact that a large (though not overwhelming) proportion of sitting MPs was publicly exposed for the same types of misconduct in a short time window.

Electoral Studies

Mass incarceration has decimated minority communities, creating a humanitarian crisis apparent in the overwhelming proportion of the world's prisoners held on our shores.

Huffington Post

This outcome may at least to some extent be a consequence of the fact that, given the vastness of the state of Western Australia and the relative remoteness of the majority of the RCSWA sites, the overwhelming proportion of RCSWA graduates spent a year at a rural site with an ASGC-RA 3 5 (10 sites) rather than an ASGC-RA of 2 (2 sites).

BMC Medical Education

This choice was offered to Groups 1 to 3 participants at Wave 4 (age 20), to see if offering alternative modes of completing the questionnaire would improve the participation rate over that achieved in Wave 3. It is clear that the overwhelming proportion of pupils opted for a questionnaire to be posted to them.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

But they shouldn't necessarily be worried about the apparently overwhelming proportion of their staff about to do them over.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overwhelming proportion" to emphasize that the percentage or amount is not just large but decisively dominant. For example, "An overwhelming proportion of customers prefer the new design."

Common error

Avoid using "an overwhelming proportion" when a simple majority or plurality would suffice. The phrase should be reserved for situations where the difference is truly significant and impactful, instead of writing something like "An overwhelming proportion of students like pizza."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming proportion" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a very large part or percentage is being referred to. It typically precedes a noun to describe the extent or degree of something, adding emphasis to its prevalence or significance. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming proportion" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to describe a significantly dominant percentage or amount. As Ludwig AI points out, it's appropriate for emphasizing that something is more than just common; it's decisively prevalent. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. To enhance your writing, use this phrase when you want to highlight the dominance of a particular aspect, but avoid overusing it in situations where a simple majority would suffice. Consider alternatives such as "a significant majority" or "a vast majority" to add variety to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant majority

Replaces "overwhelming proportion" with simpler terms for a large majority.

a vast majority

Substitutes "overwhelming" with "vast", emphasizing the large size of the majority.

a large segment

Uses "segment" instead of "proportion", implying a division into parts.

the lion's share

Replaces with an idiomatic expression indicating the largest portion.

a preponderant amount

Employs a more formal and emphatic term than "overwhelming".

a dominant fraction

Focuses on the fractional aspect, highlighting the dominance.

the greater part

A more straightforward and less emphatic substitute.

most of

A simple and direct way to express the majority.

a substantial number

Focuses on the quantity rather than the proportional aspect.

the bulk of

Implies the main or largest part of something.

FAQs

How do I use "an overwhelming proportion" in a sentence?

Use "an overwhelming proportion" to describe a situation where a very large part of a group shares a characteristic or opinion. For example, "An overwhelming proportion of the population supports the new policy."

What can I say instead of "an overwhelming proportion"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant majority", "a vast majority", or "the lion's share" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "an overwhelming majority" instead of "an overwhelming proportion"?

While "an overwhelming majority" and "an overwhelming proportion" are similar, "proportion" emphasizes the ratio or fraction, while "majority" emphasizes the numerical dominance. They can often be used interchangeably, but the best choice depends on the specific context and what aspect you want to highlight.

What's the difference between "a significant proportion" and "an overwhelming proportion"?

"A significant proportion" indicates that a notable part of a group shares a characteristic, while "an overwhelming proportion" suggests that the part is not only notable but also decisively dominant. The latter conveys a stronger sense of prevalence or impact.