the majority have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the majority have" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a group of people or things that make up the larger portion or number of a whole. Example: "In the survey, the majority have expressed their dissatisfaction with the current government policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The majority have adequate T-cell function.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

The majority have been women.

The New York Times

The majority have not been found.

Independent

The majority have forgotten the sun".

The New Yorker

The majority have fallen on hard times.

The New York Times - Sports

"The majority have no other alternative".

The Guardian

Others, the majority, have little or none.

The Washington Post

The majority have never worked in the fields before.

The Guardian

"The majority have been 'weaned off' children," Ms. Frädrich said.

The New York Times

The majority have been in their teens and 20s.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

In Myanmar, the majority have no legal identity or citizenship.

UNICEF

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain a professional tone, especially in formal writing, consider alternatives like "most" or "a significant number" instead of "the majority have".

Common error

Avoid using "the majority have" without clearly defining the group you are referring to. Unclear antecedents can lead to confusion and weaken your argument. Provide context to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the majority have" functions as a determiner phrase followed by an auxiliary verb. It introduces a statement about a group where more than half of its members share a specific characteristic or experience. As supported by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

11%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the majority have" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate that more than half of a group possesses a certain attribute or engages in a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various domains. While versatile, its neutral tone makes it suitable for a range of contexts, from news reporting to general discussions. Alternatives like "most possess" or "a large proportion have" can provide subtle shifts in formality or emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure clarity in defining the reference group to avoid ambiguity. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it also sees usage in scientific and general contexts. Keep in mind that its register is mainly neutral and more formal options exist for scenarios that require it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most possess

Replaces "majority" with "most" and "have" with "possess", altering the vocabulary while maintaining the core meaning of ownership or characteristic.

a large proportion have

Uses "large proportion" instead of "majority" to soften the definiteness, while still indicating a significant quantity.

the greater number have

Employs "greater number" as a more formal substitute for "majority", suitable for academic or technical contexts.

the bulk have

Substitutes "majority" with "bulk", emphasizing the substantial mass or volume that shares a particular trait or condition.

the preponderance have

Replaces "majority" with "preponderance", indicating a dominance in weight or influence among the group.

many individuals have

More explicitly states "many individuals" instead of the "majority" while specifying the action.

a significant number have

Replaces "the majority" with "a significant number" and sounds more polite.

the dominant part have

Uses "dominant part" instead of "majority", accentuating the controlling or prevailing segment within the whole.

a prevalent segment exhibits

Expresses the idea of common characteristic in population using a structure to showcase "prevalence" and "exhibits".

most entities demonstrate

Replaces "the majority" and "have" with formal alternatives "most entities" and "demonstrate" respectively.

FAQs

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

Use "the majority have" to indicate that more than half of a specific group shares a particular trait or experience. For example, "In the survey, "the majority have" expressed their satisfaction with the product".

What are some alternatives to "the majority have"?

You can use alternatives such as "most possess", "a large proportion have", or "many individuals have depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the majority has" instead of "the majority have"?

While "majority" is a singular noun, it refers to a group. In American English, it's generally acceptable to treat it as singular or plural depending on whether you are emphasizing the group as a unit or the individuals within it. However, in British English, it is more common to use the plural form. Therefore, ""the majority have"" is generally preferred.

What is the difference between "the majority have" and "a significant number have"?

"The majority have" indicates that more than 50% of a group shares a trait, while "a significant number have" suggests a large but not necessarily greater-than-half portion. The latter is less definitive.