vast majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'vast majority' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a large percentage of a group, such as when there is a large gap between the size of two different groups. For example, "The vast majority of people surveyed found the new product to be satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

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

"The vast majority of patients will die.

The New York Times - Sports

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vast majority" when you want to emphasize a significant imbalance in proportions. It adds more weight than simply saying "most".

Common error

Avoid using "vast majority" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "most", "greater part", or "overwhelming number" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vast majority" functions as a determiner followed by a noun, indicating a significant proportion or number. It quantifies a group, suggesting that most of its members share a common attribute or characteristic, as evidenced by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vast majority" is a powerful way to emphasize the size and significance of a particular group or trend. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news and academic writing. When using "vast majority", it's important to be mindful of potential redundancy and to consider varying your language to maintain reader engagement. Remember that while it emphasizes dominance, other phrases like "most", "overwhelming number" or "greater part" might be appropriate depending on the specific context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most

A simpler, more direct way of indicating the highest quantity.

overwhelming number

This phrase emphasizes the sheer scale or dominance of the number.

substantial portion

Indicates a significant amount, though not necessarily the absolute largest.

major portion

Indicates a large and significant segment.

a large segment

Focuses on the substantial size of one group within a larger population.

greater part

Focuses on the portion that is larger than the rest.

the better part

Indicates the larger or more significant portion of time, distance, etc.

bulk

Implies the main or largest part of something.

preponderance

Highlights the quality of being greater in weight, force, or importance.

lion's share

Emphasizes that one part receives a clearly dominant allocation.

FAQs

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

The phrase "vast majority" is used to indicate that a significantly large portion of a group or population shares a characteristic or opinion. For example, "The vast majority of students prefer online resources".

What can I say instead of "vast majority"?

You can use alternatives like "most", "overwhelming number", or "greater part" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "vast majority of people"?

While technically "majority" already implies people, using "vast majority of people" can emphasize the scale. However, it is often more concise to simply say "vast majority".

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

"Vast majority" means considerably more than half, close to all, while "large minority" indicates a significant portion, but still less than half of the total group.