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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage
Correct use of the word 'majority' (when reporting on an opinion poll)
Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example.
Imagine that an opinion poll is held in a (fictional) country called 'Zonk' about how they would vote in a referendum on whether Zonk should join the EU.
In the referendum
45% of Zonkians say they would vote in favour of joining.
43% say they would vote against
12% say that they don't know.
Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?
I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from voting in an ACTUAL referendum, then a majority of votes in favour of joining would be likely to be recorded.
However, I am wondering if the statement 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' can be correctly stated on the basis of the opinion poll results.
Thanks if you can help
PS (there may be some difference between US and UK English on this - if possible, please could you provide an answer to this question relevant for UK English.)
Imagine that an opinion poll is held in a (fictional) country called 'Zonk' about how they would vote in a referendum on whether Zonk should join the EU.
In the referendum
45% of Zonkians say they would vote in favour of joining.
43% say they would vote against
12% say that they don't know.
Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?
I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from voting in an ACTUAL referendum, then a majority of votes in favour of joining would be likely to be recorded.
However, I am wondering if the statement 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' can be correctly stated on the basis of the opinion poll results.
Thanks if you can help
PS (there may be some difference between US and UK English on this - if possible, please could you provide an answer to this question relevant for UK English.)
Top answer
[nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example. that they don't know. [/nq] No.
- [nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example.
- that they don't know.
- [/nq] No.
- A majority is more than half.
- [/nq] Yes.
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24 Answers
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[nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example. ... that they don't know. Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
No. A majority is more than half.
[nq:1]I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from voting in an ACTUAL referendum, then a majority of votes in favour of joinin
No. A majority is more than half.
[nq:1]I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from voting in an ACTUAL referendum, then a majority of votes in favour of joinin
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[nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example. ... that they don't know. Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
I don't think so. A majority is over 50%. Dunno about the Zonkian voting habits, but in the US you should write "a majority of those who voted" since all Americans rarely,
I don't think so. A majority is over 50%. Dunno about the Zonkian voting habits, but in the US you should write "a majority of those who voted" since all Americans rarely,
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[nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example. ... that they don't know. Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
No. But you could say, "A plurality of Zonkians say they wish to join the EU". Note the careful wording.
[nq:1]I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from votin
No. But you could say, "A plurality of Zonkians say they wish to join the EU". Note the careful wording.
[nq:1]I realise that if the 'don't knows' abstained from votin
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[nq:1]On this one us Leftpondians and the Rightpondians agree.[/nq]
We.
We.
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[nq:2]On this one us Leftpondians and the Rightpondians agree.[/nq]
[nq:1]We.[/nq]
Whoosh!
[nq:1]We.[/nq]
Whoosh!
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[nq:1]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in UK English) of the word 'Majority' in the following example. ... that they don't know. Could you then correctly say that 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
No.
A plurality of those polled claimed they would vote for joining. A majority of those polled who stated how they would vote claimed they would vote for joining.
No.
A plurality of those polled claimed they would vote for joining. A majority of those polled who stated how they would vote claimed they would vote for joining.
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[nq:2]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in ... 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
[nq:1]No. But you could say, "A plurality of Zonkians say they wish to join the EU". Note the careful wording.[/nq]
The word "plurality" is not well known in the UK.
A wording that would work in the UK is "A majority of Zonkians expressing a preference say they wish to join the E
[nq:1]No. But you could say, "A plurality of Zonkians say they wish to join the EU". Note the careful wording.[/nq]
The word "plurality" is not well known in the UK.
A wording that would work in the UK is "A majority of Zonkians expressing a preference say they wish to join the E
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[nq:2]Hi I have a question about the proper use (in ... 'A majority of Zonkians wish to join the EU' ?[/nq]
[nq:1]No. A majority is more than half.[/nq]
What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority?
Chris R
[nq:1]No. A majority is more than half.[/nq]
What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority?
Chris R
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[nq:2]No. A majority is more than half.[/nq]
[nq:1]What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority? Chris R[/nq]
I find this definition for Plurality;
The greater number; a majority; also, the greatest of several numbers; in elections, the excess of the votes given for one candidate over those given for another, or for any other, candidate. When
[nq:1]What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority? Chris R[/nq]
I find this definition for Plurality;
The greater number; a majority; also, the greatest of several numbers; in elections, the excess of the votes given for one candidate over those given for another, or for any other, candidate. When
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[nq:2]No. A majority is more than half.[/nq]
[nq:1]What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority? Chris R[/nq]
No. It got the most votes and probably won the election. But a majority of people did not vote for red.
A majority is more than half. 50.001 per cent will do; that's a bare majority.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
[nq:1]What if there are three choices? Red 43%, blue 38%, green 19%. Didn't red get a majority? Chris R[/nq]
No. It got the most votes and probably won the election. But a majority of people did not vote for red.
A majority is more than half. 50.001 per cent will do; that's a bare majority.
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia
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