comprise the majority of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprise the majority of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate that a particular group or portion makes up the largest part of something. Example: The students in the math club comprise the majority of the school's academic team.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nationwide, women still make much less money than men and comprise the majority of those who live in poverty.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, wherever possible, the moderate, secular Sunnis who comprise the majority of Arab Muslims need to make their voices heard.

The Economist

Thibault confirmed that inline transfers, who might comprise the majority of the 2010 Olympic team, were not well-regarded by longtime skaters at first.

The New York Times

"Of particular concern to me," she said, "is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world's unhealthy, unschooled, unfed and unpaid".

The New York Times

Women, who comprise the majority of the genre's readership, have long had a strong appetite for dark stories of domestic discord.

The Guardian - Books

Wrought metals comprise the majority of materials used in manufacturing plants.

Pocket Guide to Preventing Process Plant Materials Mix-ups

For the global human population, cereal crops comprise the majority of caloric input.

Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences

I'm generally pretty ambivalent to WinMo devices, but they do comprise the majority of my smartphone experience.

TechCrunch

Unilateral retinoblastomas, which comprise the majority of retinoblastomas, are not immune from the development of second malignancies.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Gram-negative bacteria comprise the majority of microbes that cause infections that are resistant to pre-existing antibiotics.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Second, foreign patents in China are largely awarded to organizations, while individuals comprise the majority of Chinese domestic patentees.

World Patent Information

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "comprise the majority of", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the group being described represents more than half of the total. If it's closer to half, consider using "a significant portion of".

Common error

Avoid using "is comprised of" when you simply mean "comprises". "Comprise" means 'to consist of', so the parts comprise the whole, not the other way around. The whole is composed of the parts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprise the majority of" functions as a verb phrase that indicates composition and proportion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It describes that a specific group or portion constitutes more than half of a whole.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "comprise the majority of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a particular group or portion constitutes more than half of something. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Its usage spans various domains, including news, science, and general writing, though it leans towards a more formal register. When writing, remember that "comprise" means 'to consist of', and avoid misusing "is comprised of". Consider alternatives such as "constitute the majority of" or "form the majority of" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute the majority of

Changes the verb from "comprise" to "constitute", offering a slightly more formal tone.

form the majority of

Replaces "comprise" with "form", creating a simpler and more direct expression.

make up the majority of

Uses the phrasal verb "make up" instead of "comprise", resulting in a less formal tone.

account for the majority of

Shifts the focus to the proportion represented, using "account for" to emphasize the quantity.

represent the majority of

Emphasizes that the group in question stands for or embodies the largest portion.

are the largest part of

Breaks down the phrase into simpler terms, replacing "comprise the majority" with "are the largest part".

constitute the greater part of

Similar to "constitute the majority", but uses "greater part" for a slightly different emphasis.

form a significant portion of

Uses "significant portion" instead of "majority", indicating a large but not necessarily over-half portion.

are primarily composed of

Replaces "comprise the majority" with a passive construction emphasizing composition.

mainly consist of

Uses the phrase "mainly consist of" to express that the group is largely made up of the mentioned part.

FAQs

How can I use "comprise the majority of" in a sentence?

Use "comprise the majority of" to indicate that a specific group or element constitutes more than half of the whole. For instance, "Women "comprise the majority of" healthcare workers".

What are some alternatives to "comprise the majority of"?

You can use phrases such as "constitute the majority of", "form the majority of", or "make up the majority of" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "is comprised of"?

While "is comprised of" is commonly used, it's technically more accurate to say "comprises" or "is composed of". "Comprise" means 'to consist of', so the parts comprise the whole, not the reverse.

What's the difference between "comprise the majority of" and "include the majority of"?

"Comprise the majority of" means that the listed items make up more than 50% of the whole, while "include the majority of" means that the list contains the most significant part, but might not necessarily represent more than half.