majority

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Believer  #530359  Sat, 21 Jun 08 12:15 AM
Hi,
I think I asked this a long time ago and Nona answered something like this.

a majority of discussion -- (to indicate) specific
the majority of discussion -- (to indicate) conceptual

Can you tell me about these more? 
  
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Clive  #530364  Sat, 21 Jun 08 12:42 AM
Hi,
I think I asked this a long time ago and Nona answered something like this.

a majority of discussion -- (to indicate) specific
the majority of discussion -- (to indicate) conceptual

Can you tell me about these more?
 Off-hand, I just see these as indefinite and definite (a chair/the chair, a group of people/the group of people). So, I'd better let Nona explain what she had in mind.

In what context would you want to use this expression without the article 'the' before the word 'discussion'?

Anyway, let me add this extra comment.
Some people argue that 'majority' should only be used with countable nouns, and prefer 'most of the discussion'.

However, many people do say things like 'a/the majority of the discussion', 'a/the majority of the work', etc.

Best wishes, Clive
  
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