by a significant majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by a significant majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a large portion of a group supports a particular decision or opinion, often in voting contexts. Example: "The proposal was approved by a significant majority, indicating strong support from the committee members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

By contrast, the Republican Party is viewed unfavorably by a significant majority of Americans.

The New York Times

By contrast, the Republican Party in general — and leaders like Mr. Cheney in particular — are viewed unfavorably by a significant majority of Americans.

The New York Times

The Israeli Parliament approved the American-brokered peace plan today by a significant majority, reflecting the widespread, pragmatic acceptance here of partitioning the Land of Israel.

The New York Times

A larger group of Labour MPs, number 66, ensured that the air strikes were supported by a significant majority in the House of Commons, however.

Independent

Should free and fair elections be held in Yemen, once the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh falls, the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, also Islamic, will win by a significant majority.

The Guardian - Opinion

So far the Scottish electorate has proved impervious to David Cameron's charms; the Tories in Scotland are still spoken about with real distaste by a significant majority of the electorate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

They've read very little about Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, and how they expand their power by getting a significant majority in each layer of the decision making process.

Independent

Samuelson added: "Our structure means we cannot be bought, moved or sold by anyone without a significant majority of the membership agreeing.

Independent

A month ago, a significant majority in that poll said he should.

Los Angeles Times

Overall only 16% of deliveries were assisted by health professionals, while a significant majority (78%) was attended by traditional birth attendants.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

By design, investor representatives constituted a significant majority of roundtable participants, while executive compensation consultants and proxy advisors were not represented.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by a significant majority" when you want to emphasize that a decision or opinion is supported by a notably large portion of a group, indicating strong agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "by a significant majority" when the actual majority is only slightly over 50%. Ensure the proportion truly reflects a substantial level of agreement to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a significant majority" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree or extent to which an action is performed or a state exists. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

41%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by a significant majority" is a grammatically sound and widely recognized phrase used to indicate strong support or agreement. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to use it accurately, ensuring the majority truly reflects a substantial proportion. Alternatives include "by a considerable majority" or "by a large majority". The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and scientific contexts. Remember to avoid overstating the majority to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by a considerable majority

Replaces "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing a notable but potentially less pronounced majority.

by a large majority

Substitutes "significant" with "large", indicating a substantial but general majority.

by a substantial majority

Replaces "significant" with "substantial", highlighting a solid and meaningful majority.

by a sizable majority

Uses "sizable" in place of "significant", suggesting a majority of considerable size.

by a vast majority

Replaces "significant" with "vast", emphasizing an extremely large majority.

by an overwhelming majority

Emphasizes the dominance of the majority, suggesting nearly unanimous agreement.

with a clear majority

Highlights the clarity and unambiguity of the majority.

with a decisive majority

Indicates that the majority is strong enough to determine the outcome without doubt.

by a comfortable majority

Implies that the majority is large enough to ensure security and ease.

by a healthy majority

Suggests a robust and vigorous majority, capable of sustaining its position.

FAQs

How can I use "by a significant majority" in a sentence?

You can use "by a significant majority" to indicate that a large portion of a group supports a decision or opinion. For example, "The proposal was approved "by a significant majority", demonstrating strong support from the members".

What are some alternatives to "by a significant majority"?

Alternatives include "by a considerable majority", "by a large majority", or "by a substantial majority", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "by a significant majority" in formal writing?

Yes, "by a significant majority" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to communicate that a decision or opinion is supported by a notably large portion of a group.

What is the difference between "by a simple majority" and "by a significant majority"?

"By a simple majority" means that more than 50% agree, while ""by a significant majority"" implies a much larger proportion of agreement, suggesting stronger support and less division.