Dictionary of English - majority, minority

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These refer to a greater or lesser number, and should not be used with a single entity: The majority of people fritter their money away, not The majority of the money is frittered away. The exception is in cases like a minority of the committee, which actually means a minority of the members of the committee. Many people find it difficult to decide whether to use a singular or plural verb with words like majority. The word itself is singular, but the majority of people is looks odd because the singular verb comes immediately after the plural noun.

In British English, a plural verb is used if the real subject of the sentence is the people: The majority of people agree with the government. If the subject is the majority, a singular verb is used: The government's majority has grown. This also applies to terms like a lot of, a number of, which are technically singular: A lot of children no longer have school dinners; The number of children having school dinners has shrunk (the number has shrunk, the children may well have grown).

A quick test to find the real subject is to try substituting many or most for majority, a number of, and fewer for minority etc. If the sentence still makes sense a plural verb is needed. This applies even if the real subject of the sentence is not stated but understood: The majority agree with the government; A lot no longer have school dinners.

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