form the bulk of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "form the bulk of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something constitutes the majority or a significant part of a whole. Example: "The volunteers form the bulk of our workforce, making it possible to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Their secretions form the bulk of semen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These three groups form the bulk of the official censors.

The Guardian - Tech

Several other war-torn or repressive countries form the bulk of the remainder.

The Guardian

Üligers, orally transmitted epic stories in verse, form the bulk of native literary expression.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These structures provide secretions to form the bulk of the seminal fluid of an ejaculate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

African spiny mice are omnivorous, though plant materials form the bulk of their diet.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Pork shoulder, which is far easier to get hold of than pork neck, will form the bulk of the pâté.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ideas relating to earth form the bulk of the show, with most artists presenting fairly traditional landscape interpretations.

The New York Times

Independent businessmen, especially young ones, form the bulk of those willing to pay the most for acclaimed numbers.

The New York Times

But that may simply free young people, who form the bulk of the protesters, to take to the streets.

The Economist

And focusing on access to finance, energy and infrastructure for the small informal enterprises that form the bulk of the economy in many developing countries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about proportions or compositions, use "form the bulk of" to clearly indicate that something constitutes the major part of a whole. Ensure your sentence structure supports this relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "form the bulk of" when the proportion is not actually significant. Vague terms like "some" or "several" don't align with the implication of a major portion. Be precise with your language to accurately reflect the quantity or proportion being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "form the bulk of" functions as a qualifying verb phrase, indicating that something constitutes the majority or a significant portion of a whole. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, and the provided examples confirm its consistent application across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

7%

News & Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "form the bulk of" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that something constitutes the majority or a significant portion of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and utilized across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific research. This analysis reveals that while the phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers, it is essential to ensure that the context accurately reflects a substantial proportion. Alternatives like "constitute the majority of" and "make up the greater part of" offer similar semantic weight, making "form the bulk of" a reliable choice for conveying proportional significance in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute the majority of

Replaces "form" with "constitute" and "bulk" with "majority", emphasizing numerical dominance.

make up the greater part of

Uses "make up" instead of "form", focusing on the compositional aspect of the whole.

represent the main body of

Substitutes "bulk" with "main body", highlighting the core or principal component.

comprise the largest share of

Replaces "bulk" with "largest share", indicating the biggest proportion.

account for the majority of

Emphasizes that something is responsible for a large portion of the total.

constitute the principal portion of

Replaces "bulk" with "principal portion", indicating the most important section.

compose the substantial part of

Uses "compose" instead of "form", emphasizing the act of creating a whole, and "substantial part" instead of "bulk".

build the largest segment of

Uses "build" highlighting the active creation or construction of the majority, and replaces "bulk" with "largest segment".

make up the mass of

Replaces bulk by mass.

comprise the main element of

Replaces bulk by main element.

FAQs

How can I use "form the bulk of" in a sentence?

Use "form the bulk of" to indicate that something constitutes the majority or a significant portion of something else. For example, "Volunteers "form the bulk of" the workforce."

What phrases are similar to "form the bulk of"?

Similar phrases include "constitute the majority of", "make up the greater part of", or "represent the main body of".

Is it correct to say "formed the bulk of" instead of "form the bulk of"?

Yes, "formed the bulk of" is the past tense of the phrase and is grammatically correct when referring to something that was the major part in the past.

What's the difference between "form the bulk of" and "are a part of"?

"Form the bulk of" indicates that something constitutes a majority or significant portion, while "are a part of" simply indicates that something is included within a larger group without necessarily being a major component.