most of them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most of them" is perfectly acceptable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about a group of things or people, either to refer to the majority of the group or to denote that not everyone in the group is being referred to. For example: "Most of them didn't care about the outcome of the game, but I was rooting for my team all the way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most of them, anyway.

The New York Times

Most of them couldn't.

The New York Times - Arts

Most of them are".

The New York Times

Most of them shut.

The Economist

Most of them do".

The New York Times

Most of them won't.

The New York Times

It's most of them.

The New York Times

"Most of them know exactly.

Independent

"Most of them were French.

Independent

He answered most of them.

The New York Times - Sports

Most of them are open.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "most of them", ensure the context clearly defines the group to which "them" refers to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The books were on the shelf; most of them were first editions."

Common error

Avoid using "most of them" if the referent is unclear or too distant in the text. Ensure the reader can easily identify what "them" represents to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most of them" functions as a determiner phrase, indicating a quantity or proportion. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "most of them" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to denote a majority within a defined group. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly employed across various contexts, especially in news and media. When using "most of them", ensure the reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "the majority of them" offer a more formal tone, "most of them" remains suitable for both neutral and informal registers. Ludwig's examples show the breadth of its application, making it a useful addition to your writing toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the majority of them

Replaces "most" with "the majority", a more formal synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

the bulk of them

Substitutes "most" with "the bulk", indicating a large quantity or proportion.

a vast majority of them

Emphasizes the large proportion with "vast majority", adding intensity to the meaning.

the greater part of them

Uses "greater part" instead of "most", providing a slightly more formal alternative.

the large majority of them

Adds "large" to "majority" for emphasis, highlighting the substantial proportion.

much of them

Replaces "most of" with "much of", suitable when referring to a non-countable entity.

almost all of them

Uses "almost all" to convey a proportion very close to the entirety, but not quite.

the best of them

Changes the focus to the highest quality or most desirable items within the group.

most people

A more generic phrase applicable when the 'them' refers to a group of persons.

largely

Uses an adverb to describe an action or state predominantly affecting the group.

FAQs

How can I use "most of them" in a sentence?

You can use "most of them" to indicate that a majority of a specific group or set share a particular characteristic or experience. For example, "The applicants were highly qualified; most of them had advanced degrees."

What are some alternatives to "most of them"?

Alternatives include phrases like "the majority of them", "a vast majority of them", or "almost all of them", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

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

"The majority of them" is generally considered more formal than "most of them". Both are correct, but the former may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

When should I use "much of them" instead of "most of them"?

You should use "much of them" only when referring to a non-countable entity. "Most of them" is correct when referring to a countable noun or group. For example, "most of the apples" vs. "much of the water".