a minority are vs a minority is

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'A minority are' is used when referring to a group of people or things that are considered as a whole, while 'a minority is' is used when referring to the minority group as a singular entity.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 1090 views

This phrase is correct when referring to a group of people or things that are considered as a whole.

"a minority are"

This phrase is used when the focus is on the individuals within the minority group.

Examples:

A minority are in favor of the proposal.
The minority are protesting against the new law.
A minority are causing trouble in the neighborhood.
The minority are not being heard in the decision-making process.
A minority are struggling to make ends meet.

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But only a minority are totally against the project.
Mr President, there is only one message the European Parliament can send to the government of Belarus, namely, that its repression of the democratic opposition and policy of threats against a minority are simply unacceptable.
avoiding the use of force against crowds as a whole when only a minority are posing a risk to public order;
whereas in some regions racist actions to ruin small businesses with foreign owners or owners from a minority are increasingly destroying the positive business climate,
Is there no concern at the legalisation of the violation of the rights and freedoms of all citizens, which is enshrined in this Convention in the name of combating terrorism and organised crime, in which only a minority are involved?
They are a minority who are entitled to full rights.
In Macedonia a substantial minority are Albanian.
However, honeybees are a minority.
Although of course it is a minority who are involved, there is every reason to work energetically to stop this abomination.
It is only a minority who are vandals and hooligans, although they seem to capture most of the headlines.
In the conflict that is taking place in Abkhazia and Ossetia the rights of a Russian minority are not at issue.
We also know and have to recognise, however, that the forces in support of such a development are probably still very much a minority and are very weak.
I am aware that most of the fishermen using such gear behave responsibly and that it is a minority who are causing concern.
It is a strange type of democracy when you are trying to silence a minority who are just doing what they are allowed to do within the Rules of Procedure.
The measures taken by the Belarusian Government against the country's Polish minority are a cause for concern.
He'll learn that in this world good people are a minority.
I hear from Mr Agnoletto that a minority of Kurds are here in serious difficulties and are claiming asylum in Belgium.
Only in a minority of cases are those responsible for fraud actually brought to account.
The unionists are a minority on the island of Ireland, the nationalists are a minority within Northern Ireland.
The European Commission must not maintain good relations with a country where religious minorities are systematically oppressed and discriminated against.

Alternatives:

some of the minority are
a few members of the minority are
a small percentage of the minority are
a portion of the minority are
a segment of the minority are

This phrase is correct when referring to the minority group as a singular entity.

"a minority is"

This phrase is used when the focus is on the minority group as a whole.

Examples:

A minority is often overlooked in society.
The minority is growing in numbers.
A minority is facing discrimination.
The minority is demanding equal rights.
A minority is struggling to be heard.

Show examples from the web [+]

But a minority is only thought of as one when it constitutes some kind of threat to the majority.
A minority is only in a position to highlight its problems in a credible manner if, in a particular institution, such as a parliament or a government, it makes up at least 30% of the total numbers.
Secondly, I have never been aware of the fact that being in a minority is a reason not to engage in a certain fight which is deemed justified.
The Honourable Member of European Parliament is reminded that the decision to define a group as a minority is taken by the Member States according to their national law and acting with full respect for fundamental rights.
But as you know, the Member States in particular have a very different idea of what a minority is and how a minority is defined.

Alternatives:

the minority is
that minority is
this minority is
our minority is
every minority is

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a minority are vs a minority is

"a minority are"

"a minority is"

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