provide the majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide the majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of supplying or delivering the larger part of something, often in contexts like data, resources, or opinions. Example: "The survey results indicate that the new policy will provide the majority of employees with a sense of job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A small number of universities provide the majority of all the placements.

The Guardian

The eggs also provide the majority of the liquid (water) for the cake mixture.

The Guardian

Where it's possible emotionally and financially, there's enough evidence that parents should provide the majority of care themselves.

The New York Times - Health

The burdens on women have increased but they are still expected to provide the majority of childcare.

The Guardian - Opinion

While many bingo-players enjoy main stage bingo, machines and interval games provide the majority of profits for operators.

The Guardian - Business

Grandparents provide the majority of childcare for 36% of UK families, the Daycare Trust says – and 97% are unpaid.

The Guardian - Money

Nurses, pharmacists, retail clinics and, yes, even patients themselves will provide the majority of primary care services in the future.

The New York Times

Despite fluctuating prices and resultant drops in production, revenues from petroleum still provide the majority of national budgets.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But sponsors quickly made it clear to ministers that the taxpayer was expected to provide the majority of the money.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Tsvangirai and many of his top aides are actually Shona who provide the majority of his support.

The Economist

Afghanistan's judicial system has long faced criticism over its inability to provide the majority of Afghans access to justice.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provide the majority", ensure that the context clearly defines what constitutes the majority, whether it's in terms of quantity, support, or any other measurable aspect. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the units or criteria for measurement.

Common error

Avoid using "provide the majority" without clear context. Specify what is being provided and in what context the majority is relevant. For instance, instead of saying "They provide the majority", specify, "They provide the majority of funding for the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide the majority" functions as a verb phrase where "provide" is the verb and "the majority" is the direct object. It signifies the action of supplying the larger part of something. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

41%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provide the majority" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of supplying the larger part of something. As indicated by Ludwig, it is used across various fields, including news, science, and encyclopedias. The phrase functions as a verb phrase, with "provide" as the verb and "the majority" as the object. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being provided and in what context the majority is relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supply the greater part

This alternative replaces "provide" with "supply" and "majority" with "greater part", maintaining the core meaning of furnishing the largest portion.

offer the largest share

This alternative uses "offer" instead of "provide" and "largest share" in place of "majority", emphasizing the act of giving the biggest portion.

furnish the bulk

This option replaces "provide" with "furnish" and "majority" with "bulk", focusing on supplying the main quantity.

deliver the main portion

This alternative emphasizes the act of delivering the biggest section or part of something.

contribute the lion's share

This idiom emphasizes that one is providing a significant amount, although not necessarily numerically the majority.

form the greater percentage

This option is used when percentages are provided to indicate which one is predominant.

account for most of

This alternative shifts the focus to explaining what constitutes the biggest portion, rather than providing it.

make up the larger part

This phrase describes the composition of something, indicating that a certain element constitutes the majority.

represent the biggest segment

This option is suitable when discussing data or categories, highlighting that a particular segment is the largest.

be the primary source of

This alternative focuses on where most of something originates, rather than the act of providing a majority directly.

FAQs

How can I use "provide the majority" in a sentence?

You can use "provide the majority" to indicate that something or someone supplies the largest part of something else. For example, "Fossil fuels "will still provide the majority" of the energy we need beyond the middle of this century".

What are some alternatives to "provide the majority"?

Alternatives include "supply the greater part", "offer the largest share", or "furnish the bulk". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always accurate to use "provide the majority", or are there better options sometimes?

While "provide the majority" is generally accurate, consider alternatives like "account for most of" or "represent the biggest segment" if you want to emphasize composition or data representation rather than direct provision.

What's the difference between "provide the majority" and "provide the most"?

"Provide the majority" implies supplying more than 50% of something, while "provide the most" simply means supplying the largest quantity, which may or may not exceed 50%. For example, "They "provide the most support"", but someone else still provide the majority.