comprises the majority of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprises the majority of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where most or the majority of something is made up of a certain thing. For example, "The population of this city comprises the majority of people who are under the age of 25."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The first group comprises the majority of patients undergoing major surgery, who are at risk of significant volume shifts during surgery because of bleeding or other significant intravascular volume losses.

Critical Care

Amylopectin, the major component of starch, is moderately branched, comprises the majority of starch mass, and is responsible for the crystallinity of starch granules.

BMC Systems Biology

Refinancing comprises the majority of mortgage applications.

The Washington Post

Beta-thalassemia comprises the majority of all thalassemias.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Type I collagen comprises the majority of the total body collagens.

Nitric Oxide

In fiscal year pay 2018, stock-based compensation comprises the majority of CEO pay at S&P 500 and S&P 400 companies for the first time.

Harvard University

Our local community comprises the majority of the patients for whom we care, and there is a deep-rooted culture of service within our department.

Columbia University

White adipose tissue, or white fat, comprises the majority of fat in our bodies; its purpose is to store energy for future use.

The Washington Post

Specifically, these novel scaffolds mirror the nanofibrous collagen network that comprises the majority of the non-mineral portion of bone matrix.

Biomaterials

"Few Catholic churches in the city have extensive wall mosaics, and none that I know of, except St. Ignatius, has anything that comprises the majority of interior wall space," said the Rev. Paul Tabor, an art historian who was associated with the church for many years.

The New York Times

It can answer fundamental questions in astrophysics (the nature of blazars and of gamma ray bursters), cosmology (the nature of the dark matter that comprises the majority of the mass of the universe), cosmic ray physics (origin of the highest energy cosmic rays), and particle physics (search for Lorentz violation, predicted by string theory; behavior of neutrinos in a gravitational field).

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comprises the majority of" when you want to clearly indicate that a specific element constitutes more than half of a whole, ensuring accuracy and clarity in your description.

Common error

Avoid using "composes the majority of" instead of "comprises the majority of". "Comprises" means 'to consist of' or 'to be made up of', while "compose" means 'to create or form'. The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprises the majority of" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating what something consists of. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It specifies that a particular element constitutes more than half of the whole.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

37%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "comprises the majority of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something constitutes more than half of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely applicable across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. Alternatives such as "constitutes the bulk of" and "represents the largest share of" offer similar meanings with slight nuances. When using the phrase, it's essential to ensure that "comprises" is not confused with "composes". This phrase is a valuable tool for clearly and accurately describing the composition of various entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitutes the bulk of

Emphasizes the substantial size or volume of the major component.

is mainly comprised of

Similar in meaning, but places emphasis on the composition being the main characteristic.

forms the greater part of

Highlights the quantitative aspect, indicating that the component is larger in number or amount.

represents the largest share of

Focuses on the proportional aspect, indicating the component holds the biggest portion.

accounts for most of

Indicates responsibility for a significant portion, often in statistical or financial contexts.

makes up the biggest part of

Uses simpler language to convey that something is the largest component.

is primarily composed of

Highlights that the composition is the main or most important aspect.

is predominantly composed of

Stresses the composition, specifying that the main component is made up of a particular element.

dominates the composition of

Suggests the major component has a controlling or influential presence.

constitutes a significant portion of

Emphasizes the importance and size of the portion.

FAQs

What does "comprises the majority of" mean?

The phrase "comprises the majority of" means that something constitutes more than half of a whole or a total. It indicates that the specified element is the largest part of something.

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

You can use the phrase to describe the composition of something, such as: "Advertising revenue still "accounts for most of" the company's revenue." This indicates that advertising revenue makes up the largest part of the company's total income.

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

Some alternatives include "constitutes the bulk of", "represents the largest share of", and "is mainly comprised of". These phrases can be used interchangeably depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "comprises the majority of" or "is comprised of the majority"?

The phrase "comprises the majority of" is more direct and grammatically preferred. "Is comprised of the majority" can sound awkward and is less common. Stick to "comprises the majority of" for clarity.