2 There is a difference between a majority, and the majority. You couldn't say that less than 50% of the students was the majority of the students; however, you could say that the number was a majority in terms of what they represent.
word usage - Can we say "majority" to the largest portion when it ...
Here, the majority is contrasted with the minority, and this probably makes the nouns "definite": we are all accustomed to groups of people being divided into a majority and a minority on numerous matters.
What is the difference in meaning between "A majority of" and "The ...
Can these expressions be used interchangeably? Do they mean exactly the same or is there any subtle difference in meaning? Most cars run on gasoline. The majority of cars runs on gasoline. A major...
In terms of agreement, "majority" is a borderline case. Generally, there is plural override, but singular agreement can occur when the determiner is "a", as in "A large majority of voters is required for a decisive win".
A majority of men do not have a moustache. I am using a singular verb in the first example, and a plural verb in the second example, because this seems to be the rule, though maybe it is a wrong rule:
meaning - "the majority of" vs. "a majority of" - English Language ...