the vast majority

USAGE SUMMARY

"the vast majority" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it any time you want to emphasize that a large amount of something is included in the group being discussed. For example, "The vast majority of our customers have expressed their satisfaction with our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You're in the vast majority.

The New York Times

The vast majority are employed.

The Economist

The vast majority demanded change.

The New York Times - Sports

The vast majority of U.A.E.

The New York Times

(The vast majority do not).

The New Yorker

The vast majority are loaded.

The New York Times

So the vast majority has been running.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The vast majority related to texts.

Independent

Of those the vast majority are Pentecostals.

Independent

The vast majority of Americans believe so.

The Economist

Well, the vast majority are not.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the vast majority", ensure the context is clear by specifying the group you are referring to. For example, avoid saying "The vast majority agree" without specifying who 'they' are.

Common error

Avoid using "the vast majority" when the actual proportion is closer to a simple majority. This can create a false impression of near-unanimity when it doesn't exist.

Linguistic Context

The vast majority functions as a determiner phrase, specifically a quantifier. It modifies a noun to indicate that a significantly large portion of a group or set is being referred to. Ludwig shows it's commonly used to describe groups or sets of people or items.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the vast majority" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for indicating a significantly large proportion. As shown by Ludwig, it is versatile and appears in various contexts, from formal academic writing to news reporting. However, it's essential to use it accurately, ensuring that the proportion genuinely represents a substantial majority to avoid misleading your audience. Consider alternatives like "most" or "almost all" if the emphasis on a large proportion is unnecessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the great majority

Replaces "vast" with "great", offering a slightly less emphatic synonym.

the overwhelming majority

Emphasizes the size of the majority with the adjective "overwhelming".

most people

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct and common expression.

the bulk of

Replaces "majority" with "bulk", focusing on the substantial portion.

the greater part

A more formal way of saying "most", indicating a significant portion.

a large proportion

Uses "proportion" instead of "majority", suggesting a measured amount.

almost all

Offers a near-complete quantification, implying very few exceptions.

the lion's share

Idiomatic expression indicating the largest portion, often by a significant margin.

predominantly

Adverb indicating the main or most common element within a group.

the preponderance of

A formal alternative, highlighting the dominant influence or presence.

FAQs

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

Use "the vast majority" to indicate that a significantly large portion of a group shares a particular characteristic or opinion. For example, "The vast majority of our customers have expressed satisfaction with our service."

What are some alternatives to "the vast majority"?

You can use alternatives such as "the great majority", "most people", or "almost all" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a vast majority" instead of "the vast majority"?

While "a vast majority" is sometimes used, "the vast majority" is more common and generally preferred when referring to a specific group or context. Using "a vast majority" may imply that the majority is unspecified or less defined.

What's the difference between "the vast majority" and "the majority"?

"The majority" simply indicates more than half of a group. "The vast majority" emphasizes that the portion is significantly larger than a simple majority, indicating a very large proportion, close to all. Therefore, "the majority" can be used in many contexts where "the vast majority" would be an overstatement.