The vast majority - not academic English

[Tedwonny]

Sometimes, I receive comments from markers that my English isn't academic and I was dumbfounded when an example given by the marker was 'the vast majority'. I learnt this from a textbook on IELTS preparation (academic). Is this really not academic?

 

[Tedwonny]

Just to add

Apart from experience, any useful resources online where I can check if something is 'definitely' academic to use? Say, if there's an online dictionary which comprises only items for academic writing, that would be nice (If I can't find a word in it, it may not be academic).

Thanks

 

[MikeNewYork]

I am not aware of any such resource. I also know of no problem with "vast majority".

 

[Matthew Wai]

any useful resources online

Do you consider online dictionaries useful?
'the vast majority (=nearly everyone/everything): The vast majority had never travelled outside the United States.'── quoted from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/majority

 

[Tarheel]

What could be used instead?

 

[Matthew Wai]

'great/vast/overwhelming majority of something'── quoted from http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/majority