most participants

USAGE SUMMARY

'most participants' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when referring to the majority of people or objects participating in a group activity or event. For example, "Most participants seemed to enjoy the festival."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most participants are family friends.

The New York Times

Most participants have always worn one.

The New York Times - Sports

And for most participants, it's fun.

The New York Times

But most participants confined themselves to speeches.

The New York Times - Arts

Most participants commuted by e-bike, alternated with car use.

Journal of Transport Geography

Most participants wear something approximating business casual.

University of California, Berkeley

Most participants were unemployed White men.

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing

Most participants played ball games more informally.

The New York Times - Books

Eventually the pyramid collapses, with most participants losing their money.

The New York Times

Most participants knew someone who took the class.

The New York Times

Most participants see inflation growing, reaching 1.7-2.0 1.7-2.05.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about research or events, specify characteristics of "most participants" to provide context. For example, "Most participants were female" or "Most participants had prior experience."

Common error

Avoid assuming that characteristics true for "most participants" apply to all. Always acknowledge potential outliers or exceptions to the general trend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most participants" functions as a determiner followed by a noun. It typically serves to specify that a majority, but not all, of the individuals involved in a particular activity or study share a common characteristic. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly employed in scientific and news contexts to describe sample demographics or event attendees.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "most participants" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that a majority, but not all, of a group shares a specific attribute or behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. While it's essential to avoid overgeneralization and acknowledge exceptions, using "most participants" effectively communicates trends and summaries within a group. Remember to provide specific details about the characteristics of "most participants" to enhance clarity and context. When in doubt about accuracy, consider more flexible alternatives like "many participants" or "a number of participants".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

majority of participants

Replaces "most" with "majority", emphasizing that more than half of the participants are being referred to.

the vast majority of participants

Emphasizes that almost all participants are included in the group being described.

the greater number of participants

Highlights that a larger group, rather than just a simple 'most', is involved.

a significant proportion of participants

Emphasizes the importance of the participants being discussed, suggesting their impact is notable.

the bulk of participants

Focuses on the size or volume of the group of participants.

predominant number of participants

Highlights that the number of participants is prevalent or dominant.

a large segment of participants

Indicates that a substantial portion of the total participants is being discussed.

the leading number of participants

Highlights that the quantity of participants in reference is superior.

nearly all participants

Indicates that the statement applies to almost every participant.

a good portion of participants

Suggests that many, but not necessarily the majority, of participants are included.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "most participants" in academic writing?

In academic contexts, you can use more formal alternatives like "the majority of participants", "a significant proportion of participants", or "the greater number of participants" to maintain a professional tone.

What's a less formal way to say "most participants"?

Informally, you could say "a lot of participants", "many participants", or even "plenty of participants", depending on the context.

Is it accurate to use "most participants" when I don't have exact numbers?

While "most participants" implies a majority, it's best to use this phrase when you have a reasonable basis for believing that more than half of the participants fit the description. If you're unsure, consider using terms like "many participants" or "a number of participants".

How does "most participants" differ from "all participants"?

"Most participants" indicates that a majority, but not necessarily everyone, shares a particular characteristic or opinion. "All participants", on the other hand, implies that 100% of the participants are included. Make sure to use the correct term to accurately reflect the data or observations.