an overwhelming proportion of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overwhelming proportion of" 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: "An overwhelming proportion of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 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

26 human-written examples

This ecosystem together with the three other Yungas forest types, (lower mountain pluvial forest, montane humid pluviseasonal, upper montane pluvial forests) cover an overwhelming proportion, (77%) of the vertebrate endemic areas but themselves cover just 7% of the study area.

BMC Ecology

Of the eight haplotypes, haplotype GAC occupies an overwhelming proportion in both sexes (>75%).

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an overwhelming proportion of" to effectively communicate that a very large majority of something possesses a certain characteristic or is involved in a particular situation. This phrase is suitable when you want to emphasize the dominance of a specific part of a whole.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the phrase "an overwhelming proportion of" in a single text. While effective, repeated use can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "a significant majority", "a vast number", or "a substantial portion" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming proportion of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a very large segment or percentage is being referred to. Ludwig confirms that it highlights a significant majority within a given context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming proportion of" is a versatile phrase used to denote a very large majority or significant segment. Analysis confirms it’s grammatically correct and commonly employed across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While effective in conveying scale and importance, its overuse should be avoided to maintain writing variety. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is used correctly in the examples provided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant majority of

Emphasizes the majority aspect, focusing on numbers rather than impact.

a vast number of

Highlights the sheer quantity or count, suitable when size is key.

a substantial portion of

Indicates a considerable amount, often used in formal or technical contexts.

a large percentage of

More statistically focused; ideal for expressing numerical data.

the lion's share of

Suggests that one part has taken the biggest piece, may imply competition.

a preponderant amount of

A more formal way of saying most, suitable for scientific or legal contexts.

the greater part of

Emphasizes that something makes up the majority, but is less forceful.

a dominant fraction of

Stresses the dominance and influence of the specific fraction.

the bulk of

Highlights volume or mass, appropriate for physical objects or abstract collections.

nearly all of

Emphasizes closeness to complete totality, suitable where precision is secondary.

FAQs

How can I use "an overwhelming proportion of" in a sentence?

Use "an overwhelming proportion of" to indicate that a large majority of a group or population shares a particular trait or characteristic. For example, "An overwhelming proportion of students found the online course to be beneficial".

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

"An overwhelming proportion of" suggests a much larger majority than "a majority of". While both indicate that more than half are included, "an overwhelming proportion of" indicates that the percentage is significantly higher, close to all.

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant majority of", "a vast number of", or "a substantial portion of" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "an overwhelming proportion of" in formal writing?

While generally appropriate, consider your audience and the specific context. In some cases, more precise statistical language might be preferable. However, "an overwhelming proportion of" is suitable for conveying a general sense of scale in many formal contexts, as confirmed by its frequent use in sources such as The New York Times.