form the majority of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "form the majority of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a group or category that constitutes a large part of a whole. Example: "Women form the majority of the workforce in this industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

These groups form the majority of the nation.

The New York Times

She said they were believed to form the majority of the stolen documents.

The New York Times

Although males form the majority of the sky gods, the chthonic (underworld) divinities are mostly female.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It became inevitable that locally elected independents, who form the majority of the Congress, would come to the fore.

The Guardian - Opinion

These institutional messages now form the majority of texts in cyberspace - and several organisations forbid the use of abbreviations, knowing that many readers will not understand them.

The Guardian - Books

Instead of mandating that student outcome data be a part of teacher evaluation, it requires that test scores form the majority of any teacher evaluation system.

The Economist

The lowland peoples, however, form the majority of the population, and most belong to one of the dominant ethnic groups of the region's nations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The most numerous of the groups is the South Slavs, who form the majority of the population in Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Montenegro.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Domestic workers who look after children and perform household chores form the majority of non-Chinese residents in this territory of seven million.

The New York Times

Members of the papers' National Union of Journalists chapel – who form the majority of the print edition's staff – said they were "deeply sceptical about the company's ability to generate confidence in the new Independent website".

The Guardian

The Zambian troops form the majority of the approximately 300 soldiers taken hostage this week in the West African country, where the United Nations is striving to keep peace after eight years of civil war.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "form the majority of", ensure the subject you are describing truly represents more than 50% of the whole. Avoid using it when describing a significant, but not necessarily dominant, portion.

Common error

Avoid using "form the majority of" when referring to a group that constitutes a large portion but not necessarily over half. For example, saying "Millennials form the majority of voters" is inaccurate if they constitute less than 50% of the voting population. Use a phrase like "significant portion of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "form the majority of" functions as a verbal phrase that typically introduces a clause specifying what constitutes the larger part of a whole. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "form the majority of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that a specific group or element constitutes more than half of a larger whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's accurate and effective. It appears most often in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, ensure accuracy in representing the actual proportions. Alternatives include "constitute the majority of" and "make up the majority of". Be mindful not to use it when the group is substantial but does not exceed 50%.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constitute the majority of

This alternative uses a more formal verb, "constitute", to convey the same meaning, indicating that something makes up the largest part.

comprise the majority of

Similar to "constitute", "comprise" offers a formal alternative, indicating that something is included or contained within the larger part.

compose the majority of

Similar to "constitute" and "comprise", this expresses the idea of elements combining to create the largest part.

make up the majority of

This option uses the phrasal verb "make up" instead of "form", offering a slightly more informal tone.

represent the majority of

This choice emphasizes the idea of something symbolizing or accounting for the largest part.

constitute the largest portion of

This alternative emphasizes "portion" over "majority", maintaining a similar level of formality.

account for the majority of

This phrase highlights the portion that something explains or is responsible for within the total.

make up the largest segment of

By replacing "majority" with "largest segment", this option shifts the focus to a specific section or division.

hold the majority of

This phrase uses "hold" suggesting possession or control over the greater part of something.

dominate

This option provides a more concise and impactful way of expressing the prevalence or supremacy of something.

FAQs

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

Use "form the majority of" to indicate that a particular group or element constitutes more than half of a larger whole. For instance, "Women "form the majority of" the nursing profession".

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

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "constitute the majority of", "make up the majority of", or "comprise the majority of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "forms the majority of" instead of "form the majority of"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "forms" when the subject is singular (e.g., "This issue forms the majority of complaints"). Use "form" when the subject is plural (e.g., "These cases "form the majority of" the workload").

What's the difference between "form the majority of" and "represent a significant portion of"?

"Form the majority of" indicates that something constitutes more than half of the whole. "Represent a significant portion of" simply means something constitutes a notable amount, without necessarily being over 50%. Therefore, ""form the majority of"" is more specific and implies a larger proportion.