majority fail to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "majority fail to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where most people do not succeed in achieving something or do not meet a certain standard. Example: "The majority fail to recognize the importance of mental health in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Other economists say that even among those denied benefits, a majority fail to go back to work, in part because of medical problems and a lack of marketable skills.

The New York Times

A slightly self-serving study by PR and marketing agency Wildfire, which analysed the social media activity of the 2009 Deloitte Fast Tech 50, found that 90% of the UK tech companies featured had a presence on two or more social networks but the majority fail to actually use social media in a social way.

TechCrunch

Of those that are prosecuted, the great majority fail to achieve convictions.

Huffington Post

Hundreds of thousands of human embryos are cultured yearly at in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers worldwide, yet the vast majority fail to develop in culture or following transfer to the uterus.

Plosone

Each of these models has strengths, but the majority fail to reproduce the chronic nature of IPF [ 50].

Fibrogenesis and Tissue Repair

However, while kinase-targeted strategies are a successful example of precision therapy for several cancers, the majority fail to produce long-term durable response or complete remission (Zhang et al, 2009).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote in a concurring opinion that the majority failed to provide "any standards" to magistrates or prosecutors.

The New York Times

The court's majority failed to protect the defendant's constitutional right to be spared double jeopardy, and instead protected the trial judge's mistake.

The New York Times

In his blistering dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Wells said the majority failed to understand the profound national confusion that would result from allowing a hasty weekend recount of ballots to determine the outcome of a presidential election.

The New York Times

It is deeply unfortunate that the five judges in the majority failed to differentiate these important facts from those of Gary McFarlane the Relate counsellor whose application was rightly rejected by the European court.

The Guardian - Opinion

FundCreator's launch coincided with the end of a particularly bad year for hedge funds: in 2006, the majority failed to match the 15.8-per-cent return of the S. & P. 500.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider if a more precise term than "majority" is appropriate. Percentages or specific numbers can strengthen the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "majority fail to" without specifying the reasons for the failure. Providing context such as contributing factors or underlying causes enhances understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "majority fail to" functions as a descriptor indicating that a significant portion of a group or category does not achieve a particular outcome or meet a certain standard. This is supported by Ludwig, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "majority fail to" is a grammatically sound way to express that most members of a group are unsuccessful in a specific endeavor. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides examples across various domains, including science, news, and business. The phrase is most frequently encountered in neutral contexts, and while it's a valid construction, being precise using specific percentages or numbers instead of just "majority" can add greater clarity. Remember to specify the reasons for the failure instead of leaving it as an overgeneralized statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most do not succeed in

Replaces "majority fail" with a more direct expression of lack of success.

the greater part are unsuccessful at

Substitutes "majority" with "greater part" and uses "unsuccessful" for "fail".

a significant number do not achieve

Emphasizes the quantity of those who fail and replaces "fail" with "do not achieve".

most are unable to

Focuses on the inability to succeed, rather than simply failing.

the bulk of individuals cannot

Replaces "majority" with "bulk" to refer to a large part and uses "cannot" instead of "fail".

the majority does not complete

Focuses on incompletion rather than failure.

most are deficient in

Replaces "fail to" with "are deficient in", highlighting a lack of necessary qualities.

a large proportion fall short of

Uses "fall short of" to suggest a failure to reach a required standard.

the largest segment struggles to

Highlights the difficulty in achieving success for the majority.

a preponderance is deficient at

Focuses on the deficiency rather than a complete failure.

FAQs

How can I use "majority fail to" in a sentence?

Use "majority fail to" to express that most of a group or category don't succeed at something. For example, "The majority of startups "fail to become" profitable within their first year".

What are some alternatives to "majority fail to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "most do not succeed", "the greater part are unsuccessful", or "a significant number do not achieve". Consider the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing an alternative.

Is it better to use a specific percentage instead of "majority fail to"?

Using a specific percentage can provide more precise information than "majority fail to", especially if you have the data available. For example, instead of saying "The majority of students "fail to complete" the course", you could say "60% of students fail to complete the course".

What does "majority fail to" imply about the group being discussed?

"Majority fail to" implies that there is a widespread lack of success within the group being discussed. It suggests that the conditions or challenges are such that most members are unable to achieve a specific goal or standard.