constituted the majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "constituted the majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a group or a collection of items that make up more than half of a total. Example: "In the recent election, the candidates from the Green Party constituted the majority of the votes cast."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Women, many of them widows, constituted the majority of the outbreak's victims.

The New Yorker

Formic acid and acetic acid constituted the majority of degradation products (8.5 g).

Bioresource Technology

Until about 1940, people of African descent constituted the majority of Mississippi's population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The election results confirmed Blanqui's apprehensions: the conservatives constituted the majority of the Constituent Assembly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These people, "tainted by communism", constituted the majority of the participants in all revolts against the communist dictatorships.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whereas Catholics constituted the majority of the population on the island overall, they were in the minority in Northern Ireland.

The Washington Post

In southern Europe, flash floods constituted the majority of flood events, and were most prevalent between September and November.

Nature

The culture technique showed that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species constituted the majority of the microbial populations.

International Journal of Food Microbiology

Until the mid-19th century, slaves, mostly from the west coast of Africa, constituted the majority of the population.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Indeed, from the early 1830s to the mid-1860s, those of British origin constituted the majority of Montreal's inhabitants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lang says she did not encounter problems during the Soviet era either; under communist rule, women traditionally constituted the majority of doctors.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "constituted the majority", ensure that the context clearly defines the total population or group from which the majority is derived. This adds precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "constituted the majority" when referring to a near-majority or plurality. For example, if a group represents 45% of the total, it is more accurate to say it "formed a significant portion" rather than claiming it "constituted the majority".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constituted the majority" functions as a verb phrase indicating that a specific group or element formed more than half of a given population or set. Ludwig AI confirms that is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

19%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "constituted the majority" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that a particular group or element makes up more than half of a total. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. While similar phrases like "made up the majority" and "accounted for most" can be used as alternatives, it's crucial to maintain precision and clarity in describing proportions to avoid misleading statements. When clarity and authoritative statements are important, "constituted the majority" is an excellent choice of expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made up the majority

A more informal and common way to express the same concept.

were in the majority

States the condition of being the majority, rather than the action of forming it.

accounted for most

Indicates that something was responsible for a significant portion of the whole.

formed the greater part

Emphasizes the idea of something composing a substantial portion, but with slightly less precision than "constituted".

constituted the largest segment

Uses the term "segment" to refer to the majority, which may fit certain specific contexts.

represented the bulk

Highlights the size or volume of the element in question.

held the largest share

Emphasizes the proportion held by the majority.

comprised the greater number

Focuses on the numerical aspect of the majority.

were the predominant part

Highlights the aspect of the majority being outstanding in comparison to others.

dominated the composition

Highlights the prominence and influence of the majority element.

FAQs

What does "constituted the majority" mean?

The phrase "constituted the majority" means that a particular group or element made up more than half of the total. It indicates that this group was the largest in number or proportion compared to other groups within the same context.

How to use "constituted the majority" in a sentence?

You can use "constituted the majority" to describe a situation where a specific group makes up more than 50% of a whole. For example: "Women "constituted the majority" of the patients in the study."

What can I say instead of "constituted the majority"?

You can use alternatives like "made up the majority", "formed the greater part", or "accounted for most" depending on the specific context. These alternatives convey the same general idea of representing more than half of the total.

Is it correct to say "constituted a majority" instead of "constituted the majority"?

While "constituted a majority" might be grammatically understandable, "constituted the majority" is generally preferred and more common. "The majority" implies a specific and identifiable majority within a given context, whereas "a majority" is less precise. It is advisable to use ""constituted the majority"" for clarity and conventional usage.