major claim

USAGE SUMMARY

"major claim" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a primary argument that supports your position or point of view in an essay or article. For example, "The major claim in my research paper is that the use of artificial intelligence is beneficial to society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Independency of other, also often unknown, substance properties was a major claim to this work.

Chemical Engineering Science

The Duke paper's second major claim, about why students want to work at banks, requires some extra parsing.

The New York Times

Dembski's second major claim is that certain mathematical results cast doubt on Darwinism at the most basic conceptual level.

The New Yorker

Worst of all was Powell's February 2003 presentation at the UN; his every major claim on WMD was proved wrong.

Independent

But the head of HR's major claim wasn't wrong: Men and women were equally likely to be promoted.

Harvard Business Review

The major claim made is that mathematical programming can produce globally optimal solutions and practically important sub-optimal solutions when conceptual insights are employed to build the models.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

This was a major claim, for it threatened the singularity of a famed set of Galileo drawings known as the Florence Sheet.

The New Yorker

Sayles's modest manner conceals a major claim: in "Honeydripper," in that tiny club, he has created his version of the birth of rock and roll.

The New Yorker

The major claim that Goldberg and Zipursky develop is that our benefit-cost analysis fails to demonstrate that the case for product liability is uneasy.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Opponents of e-scooters typically make three major claims.

The New York Times - Tech

Swiss Re, another large reinsurer, said it did not expect to face major claims.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "major claim", ensure it is clearly defined and supported by evidence to enhance credibility.

Common error

Avoid presenting every claim as a "major claim". Reserve this term for assertions that are central to your argument and have significant implications to avoid diluting its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major claim" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "major" modifies the noun "claim". It is used to identify a significant assertion within an argument or discussion, signaling its importance. Ludwig examples show it used to highlight key points in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major claim" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a significant assertion or argument. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. The phrase serves to emphasize the importance of a particular point, guiding the audience's attention to what is considered most crucial. While suitable for formal writing, it's important to avoid overusing the term to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "primary assertion" or "key argument" can offer variety. In essence, using "major claim" effectively involves clear articulation and solid support with evidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary assertion

Replaces "major" with "primary", emphasizing the foundational nature of the assertion.

key argument

Substitutes "claim" with "argument", focusing on the logical reasoning behind the statement, and "major" with "key", signaling importance.

central thesis

Uses "thesis" instead of "claim", suggesting a more formal or academic context.

main contention

Replaces "claim" with "contention", highlighting a point of disagreement or debate, and "major" with "main", underscoring the principal point.

significant proposition

Substitutes "claim" with "proposition", presenting the statement as a formal suggestion or idea, and "major" with "significant", signaling importance.

principal point

Focuses on the statement as the most important idea being presented.

critical assertion

Highlights the importance of the claim with "critical".

chief argument

Emphasizes the primary nature of the argument.

foremost contention

Indicates that the contention is the most important or prominent one.

leading proposition

Suggests that the proposition is guiding or directing the discussion.

FAQs

How can I effectively introduce a "major claim" in my writing?

Start with a clear statement of your "major claim", then provide context and evidence to support it. Use phrases like "the central argument is", or "this paper argues that".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "major claim"?

You can use alternatives like "primary assertion", "key argument", or "central thesis" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "major claim" in formal academic writing?

Yes, "major claim" is suitable for formal academic writing, particularly when you want to emphasize the significance of a particular argument or assertion. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "central thesis" when appropriate.

How does a "major claim" differ from a regular claim?

A "major claim" is more significant and central to the overall argument than a regular claim. It's the main point you're trying to make, while other claims might serve as supporting evidence or minor points.