preponderance

USAGE SUMMARY

"preponderance" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean "an amount or number much larger than the rest" or "predominance". For example: "The preponderance of evidence suggests that the defendant is guilty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The coalition of disability groups are pushing the Georgia state assembly to change the law to bring it in line with the other 49 states by lowering the burden of proof to "preponderance of the evidence".

The Guardian

There's a preponderance of bad-faith arguers launching tiresome straw-man attacks, sure, but even the well-meaning can ruin a conversation by barging in demanding answers to basic questions.

The Guardian - Opinion

The justices ruled that such executions violated the eighth amendment of the US constitution that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. 5. Just months after the supreme court ban was imposed, a Georgia court found that Hill was "mentally retarded" by a "preponderance of the evidence".

The Guardian

However, many of the documents that report negative reactions are themselves suspect, and should be evaluated critically in light of the preponderance of evidence that suggests a respectful attitude.

The Guardian - Music

By that standard Hill would have been taken off death row long ago – he was found to be intellectually disabled by a preponderance of the evidence by a Georgia court in 2002.

The Guardian

Most states use the "preponderance of evidence" proof that Hill was found to meet.

The Guardian

While Georgia requires a standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt", all other states say that it must be "by a preponderance of the evidence" – that is, a prisoner must be most likely to be intellectually impaired.

The Guardian

Colleges typically determine guilt based on the civil "preponderance of the evidence" standard, meaning it is more likely than not that the perpetrator committed the crime, rather than the far tougher "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard, which is used in criminal courts.

The Economist

The new "affirmative consent" law in California includes a clause requiring schools to use the "preponderance of evidence" standard.Other states and colleges are likely to follow suit.

The Economist

At present Britain is much more sensitive to changes in interest rates than most other European economies because of its preponderance of floating rate mortgage debt.

The Economist

The experiment, which was conducted by a Facebook data scientist and two outside researchers, covered some 3m posts containing 122m words.After the week was up and the deliberate manipulation of feeds ended, the researchers found that those who had seen a preponderance of upbeat news over the period were more likely to produce upbeat posts of their own in the days that followed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preponderance", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being outweighed or exceeded. This strengthens the clarity and impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "preponderance" when simply referring to a large quantity without implying a comparison or imbalance. Use "abundance" or "majority" instead to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The noun "preponderance" primarily functions as a subject or object within a sentence, denoting a state of being greater in number, weight, or influence. Ludwig examples illustrate this, showing it used to describe the balance of evidence or power.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preponderance" is a noun denoting a greater amount or influence. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. Related terms include "prevalence" and "predominance", though they have slightly different nuances. When using "preponderance", ensure clarity about what is being outweighed. As examples show, it serves to highlight an imbalance or dominance in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predominance

Emphasizes being superior in influence or power.

dominance

Stresses the power to control or influence.

superiority

Highlights the state of being better or more powerful than others.

prevalence

Focuses on the widespread existence of something rather than the weight or power it holds.

ascendancy

Refers to a rise in power or influence.

outweighing

Focuses on being heavier or more significant than something else.

majority

Refers specifically to the greater number or part; a more quantitative term.

excess

Indicates a surplus or overabundance of something.

bulk

Refers to the major part or greatest volume of something.

lion's share

Informal idiom indicating the largest portion.

FAQs

How to use "preponderance" in a sentence?

Use "preponderance" to indicate a greater amount, weight, or influence. For example, "The "preponderance of evidence" suggests his guilt."

What can I say instead of "preponderance"?

You can use alternatives like "prevalence", "predominance", or "majority" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "preponderance of" or "preponderance in"?

"Preponderance of" is generally the correct usage. For example, "the "preponderance of evidence"", not "the preponderance in evidence".

What's the difference between "preponderance" and "superiority"?

"Preponderance" implies a greater amount or influence, while "superiority" suggests a higher quality or status. "Preponderance" focuses on quantity, whereas "superiority" focuses on quality.