majority of which

USAGE SUMMARY

"majority of which" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a majority or large portion of something that has been previously mentioned. Example sentence: The company produced thousands of products, the majority of which were sold out within the first week of release.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Respondents provided data on 534 courses, the majority of which were courses for majors.

CBE Life Sciences Education

The sale raised £251,500, the majority of which will go to the National Literacy Trust.

The Guardian - Books

The unit is investigating outstanding receipts worth £1.9bn, a majority of which involve aggressive avoidance schemes.

The Guardian - Business

About 600 structures were damaged, the majority of which were single-family homes.

The Guardian

Oxycodone accounted for 60.7% of these detections, the majority of which were sourced from Thailand.

The Guardian - Opinion

By 4am operators had answered 2,639 emergency calls, the majority of which were alcohol-related.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The market for filament, the majority of which is made from virgin plastic, is growing rapidly.

The Guardian

The project will cost more than $100,000, the majority of which will be private donations.

The New York Times

Most affected are net food-importing countries, the majority of which have low incomes.

The Economist

"A huge number of people live here, the majority of which are normal, honest, decent people".

The New York Times

As such, the regulations applied strictly to telecoms providers, the majority of which were state owned.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "majority of which" to provide further detail about a previously mentioned group or set. It enhances clarity by specifying that a significant portion of that group shares a particular characteristic. For example, "The students took several exams, the "majority of which" were multiple-choice."

Common error

Avoid using "majority of which" if the antecedent (the group being referred to) is ambiguous or unclear. This can lead to confusion. Ensure the group is explicitly stated before using the phrase. For example, instead of "Many issues arose, the "majority of which" were resolved quickly", specify what the issues were related to: "Many technical issues arose during the project, the "majority of which" were resolved quickly by the IT team."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "majority of which" functions as a relative clause modifier, providing additional information about a previously mentioned noun phrase. It introduces a clause that specifies that most of the items or members of that noun phrase possess a certain characteristic or quality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "majority of which" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction in English writing. As Ludwig AI also confirms, it serves to provide additional detail about a previously mentioned group, specifying that more than half of the members share a specific trait. This phrase is commonly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedia articles, indicating a formal to neutral register. To ensure clarity, always make sure that it has a clear antecedent. Alternatives like "most of which" can be used, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most of which

Emphasizes quantity or number being greater than half.

the greater part of which

Implies a significant, but not necessarily overwhelming, portion.

a large proportion of which

Highlights the relative size of the portion.

a significant fraction of which

Focuses on the fractional representation of the portion.

the bulk of which

Suggests the main mass or volume of something.

the preponderance of which

Indicates a dominance or outweighing of one part over others.

a substantial segment of which

Emphasizes the size and importance of the segment.

a considerable amount of which

Highlights the quantity or degree of something.

the lion's share of which

Suggests the largest and most desirable portion.

the better part of which

Implies a qualitative assessment of the portion, suggesting it's the best or most important part.

FAQs

How can I use "majority of which" in a sentence?

Use "majority of which" to provide additional information about a previously mentioned group or set. For example, "The company released several new products, the "majority of which" were aimed at younger consumers."

What are some alternatives to "majority of which"?

You can use alternatives like "most of which", "the greater part of which", or "a large proportion of which" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "majority of which" or "most of which"?

"Majority of which" tends to be slightly more formal than "most of which", although both are acceptable in formal writing. The best choice depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

What's the difference between "majority of which" and "some of which"?

"Majority of which" indicates that more than half of the group or set shares a particular characteristic, while "some of which" simply means that at least a few members of the group do. They convey different proportions and implications.