making up the majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making up the majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group or category that constitutes the largest portion of a whole. Example: "In the recent survey, young adults were making up the majority of the respondents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Most visitors are European, with British, French, and German tourists making up the majority.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But after 40 years of making up the majority of graduates in some countries, that argument is wearing thin.

The Economist

"The bar graphs are informative and minimalistic, while not making up the majority of allocated space," he said.

The New York Times

The volume of incentivised reviews is increasing sharply, making up the majority of new reviews on Amazon since February.

The Guardian - Tech

The retreats often have a religious or spiritual element, with Buddhist, Christian and Catholic retreats making up the majority.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Alabama has one of the nation's most overcrowded prison systems, with nonviolent offenders making up the majority of the inmate population.

The New York Times

The less photogenic sections, making up the majority of the original wall, were crushed and used for road and motorway construction.

The Guardian

Anecdotal evidence suggests men are more likely to hold senior positions in UK publishing, despite women making up the majority of the workforce.

The Guardian - Books

It also suggests that the trend is widespread, with expats also making up the majority of squads in Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Belgium.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The court's four conservatives made up the majority that approved the changes.

The New Yorker

$25 , $50 and $100checks made up the majority of giving.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "making up the majority", ensure the context clearly defines the total group or population being referenced. For example, specify "women making up the majority of the workforce" rather than just "women making up the majority".

Common error

A common error is using a singular verb with the phrase when the subject is plural. For example, avoid saying "students making up the majority is..." and instead use "students making up the majority are..."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making up the majority" functions as a participial phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that a specific group constitutes the largest portion of a whole. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making up the majority" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used participial phrase. It describes a group or category that constitutes the largest portion of a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse forms of writing, including news, scientific reports, and general articles. Related phrases include "constituting the majority" and "forming the majority". When using this phrase, ensure clarity in defining the total group and avoid subject-verb agreement errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constituting the majority

Replaces "making up" with "constituting", a more formal synonym, without altering the meaning.

forming the majority

Substitutes "making up" with "forming", offering a slightly different nuance while maintaining the core meaning.

representing the largest portion

Rephrases the idea using "representing the largest portion", emphasizing the proportional aspect.

comprising the bulk

Replaces "majority" with "bulk", highlighting the substantial quantity.

accounting for most

Focuses on the contribution to the whole, using "accounting for most".

predominating

A single-word substitution, "predominating", which signifies being the main or strongest element.

being the largest segment

Emphasizes the segmentation aspect, referring to the largest part as the "largest segment".

holding the greater part

Uses "holding the greater part" to convey the idea of possessing the largest share.

consisting primarily of

Highlights the composition of the whole, indicating that it "consists primarily of" the specified group.

primarily composed of

Similar to the previous phrase, but reordered to emphasize the composition.

FAQs

How can I use "making up the majority" in a sentence?

You can use "making up the majority" to indicate that a particular group or category constitutes more than half of a larger group. For example: "Smartphones "making up the majority" of all phones sold in 2013."

What are some alternatives to "making up the majority"?

Alternatives include "constituting the majority", "forming the majority", or "representing the largest portion".

Is there a difference between "making up the majority" and "comprising the majority"?

"Making up the majority" and "comprising the majority" are largely interchangeable. Both indicate that a group or category forms the largest part of a whole. However, "comprising" is often considered slightly more formal.

Which is correct: "make up the majority" or "making up the majority"?

"Making up the majority" is a phrase used within a sentence, often as part of a clause. "Make up the majority" could be used as an imperative, though it's less common. For example: "If students "make up the majority", they should have a voice" uses make as a verb.