largely affirmative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely affirmative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, response, or feedback that is mostly positive or supportive, but may have some minor reservations. Example: "The committee's response to the proposal was largely affirmative, indicating strong support with a few suggestions for improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

These are among its findings: Jews largely support affirmative action that considers race among many factors.

The New York Times

The story reinforced what has become a widely accepted notion: That Asian-Americans largely oppose affirmative action.

Huffington Post

Of course, some contend Mr. Zweig's largely optimistic observations on race relations at the time belied circumstances that were considerably more complex — and continue to be as affirmative action programs spreading across Brazil seek to reverse centuries of exclusion.

The New York Times

If the question, on Inauguration Day, was whether American democracy would prove to be bigger than a President Trump, the answer, so far, is largely in the affirmative.

The New Yorker

As such, it can be added to an overstuffed file, along with Professor Twenge's other current contribution to the national conversation: a story in The Atlantic, much circulated on Facebook among parents of teens, that asked, "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?," and answered its own question largely in the affirmative.

The New Yorker

The group, most of whose members were white, had supported the white Republican front-runner largely because he opposed affirmative action.

The New York Times

In an old question of de Rham about the topological classification of rotations of Euclidean space was largely answered in the affirmative.

Duke University

The program was part of an affirmative action program largely aimed at indigenous Malays, who were less entrepreneurial than the country's business-minded Chinese immigrants.

Harvard Business Review

Affirmative action is largely a voluntary commitment by leading institutions that are convinced it is in their self-interest to enlarge opportunities for historically disfavored groups, because it helps fulfill their missions.

The New York Times

Anti-affirmative action advocates largely see admissions to a university with highly selective admissions as a reward based on test scores; they are not terribly concerned with the predictive validity of other admissions criteria.

University of California, Berkeley

But for much of the time since the Fair Housing Act was passed, this "affirmative" mandate has been largely ignored by both local communities and HUD itself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "largely affirmative" to convey a nuanced positive response that isn't entirely without reservations. It suggests a strong inclination towards agreement or approval, but acknowledges the possibility of minor dissenting opinions or areas of concern.

Common error

Avoid using "largely affirmative" when the situation is overwhelmingly positive and unqualified. In such cases, a simple "affirmative" or "positive" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely affirmative" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates the extent to which something is affirmative or positive. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "largely affirmative" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in written English, as affirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe something that is predominantly positive or agreeable, while subtly acknowledging the presence of minor reservations or dissenting opinions. While the phrase doesn't appear very frequently, when used, it occurs in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, keep in mind the importance of not overstating the level of positivity and use more appropriate expression in case the statement is already 100% positive. Consider alternative options like "mostly positive" or "generally supportive" if a slightly different nuance is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly positive

Indicates a predominantly positive sentiment, emphasizing the positive aspect more strongly.

mainly positive

Similar to "mostly positive", but may imply a slightly smaller margin of positivity.

generally supportive

Highlights the supportive nature of the response, focusing on backing or endorsement.

predominantly favorable

Stresses the favorable aspect, suggesting a strong inclination towards a positive outcome.

largely in agreement

Focuses on the aspect of concurrence or consensus.

on the whole, positive

Indicates that despite minor negatives, the overall sentiment is positive.

substantially approving

Emphasizes the significant degree of approval involved.

for the most part, yes

An idiomatic way of expressing a largely positive response.

to a great extent, affirmative

Highlights the degree to which the response is affirmative.

primarily accepting

Focuses on the act of acceptance as the main characteristic of the response.

FAQs

How can I use "largely affirmative" in a sentence?

You can use "largely affirmative" to describe a response or situation that is mostly positive but may have minor reservations. For example: "The committee's response was "largely affirmative", but some members suggested minor changes."

What can I say instead of "largely affirmative"?

You can use alternatives like "mostly positive", "generally supportive", or "predominantly favorable" depending on the context.

Is "largely affirmative" formal or informal?

"Largely affirmative" has a neutral to slightly formal tone and is suitable for professional or academic contexts. In very informal situations, simpler expressions like "mostly yes" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "affirmative" and "largely affirmative"?

"Affirmative" indicates a complete and unqualified agreement or positive response. "Largely affirmative" implies a generally positive response but acknowledges the possibility of some reservations or minor disagreements.