"an overwhelming number of" vs "most"

[wiont45]

Hi,

I have questions about some LSAT languages.

Is "an overwhelming number of sth" means "most or majority of sth" in LSAT world?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi wiont45,

Thanks for the question. The idea of an "overwhelming" number suggests that you are talking about a lot of items. While on the one hand that could be interpreted as just a very large number, in most cases it would be referring to a somewhat finite group and would then mean "most" and probably closer to "nearly all." For example, "An overwhelming number of the cases assigned to Judge Smith ended in settlements" suggests that without question most of them settled, and perhaps more than 90-95% settled. Thus, this is the interpretation that I would rely on. In either event I doubt seriously a question would rely on interpreting it differently.

Thanks!