the most prevalent

USAGE SUMMARY

'the most prevalent' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is most common or widespread. Example sentence: The most prevalent virus at the moment is the coronavirus.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The most prevalent defect is cleavage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sneakers were the most prevalent footwear.

The New York Times - Travel

Ossicular lesions represent the most prevalent change.

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology

Fumonisins were the most prevalent mycotoxins found.

Journal of Dairy Science

The most prevalent symptom in the first basket is depression.

The New Yorker

Phenolic compounds are the most prevalent pollutants in industrial wastewater.

Electrochimica Acta

"Click" type reactions represent the most prevalent post-polymerization strategies.

Polymer

The most prevalent crime is pick-pocketing and theft.

Cornell University

The first, product edges, are the most prevalent.

Harvard Business Review

Overall, the most prevalent genotypes were HPV16, 52 and 58.

Nature

Rhodium Group tracks the most prevalent greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the most prevalent", ensure you provide context by specifying what you're referring to: "The most prevalent symptom...", "The most prevalent cause...", etc.

Common error

Avoid using "the most prevalent" without defining the scope or category. For instance, instead of saying "This is the most prevalent", specify, "This is the most prevalent type of error in this dataset."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the most prevalent" functions as a superlative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun is the most common or widespread within a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the most prevalent" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to denote the highest frequency or widest distribution within a particular context. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It finds applications across diverse domains, including science, news, and academia. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the scope and context to prevent ambiguity. Consider related phrases like "the most common" or "the most widespread" to achieve nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the most common

Focuses on frequency of occurrence, slightly more general than prevalence.

the most widespread

Emphasizes geographical distribution or broad reach.

the most frequent

Highlights the regularity of occurrence.

the most dominant

Suggests a position of power or control due to its prevalence.

the leading

Implies being at the forefront due to widespread presence.

the primary

Indicates the main or principal occurrence.

the most recurrent

Highlights repeated occurrences, adding a sense of cyclical nature.

the most usual

Suggests something is typical or ordinary.

the top

Short and informal, indicating the highest rank in terms of frequency.

the overriding

Implies that something surpasses all other occurences, which is a more emphatic version of prevalent

FAQs

How do I use "the most prevalent" in a sentence?

Use "the most prevalent" to describe something that occurs more often than anything else within a specific context. For example, "In this region, the most prevalent type of cancer is skin cancer."

What are some alternatives to "the most prevalent"?

You can use alternatives like "the most common", "the most widespread", or "the most frequent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "very prevalent" instead of "the most prevalent"?

Yes, "very prevalent" is correct, but it indicates a high degree of occurrence without necessarily being the highest. "The most prevalent" specifies it is the highest among others.

What's the difference between "the most prevalent" and "the most common"?

While often interchangeable, "the most common" generally refers to simple frequency, whereas "the most prevalent" can also imply a wider distribution or influence. Choose the word that best fits the specific context.