Had a substantial impact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Had a substantial impact" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a significant effect or influence that something has had on a situation, event, or outcome. Example: "The new policy had a substantial impact on employee productivity and morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mankind may have had a substantial impact on the planet's resources, but using up a quarter of all known matter?

The Guardian

Although it had a substantial impact on the literary world, "Duddy Kravitz" had only moderate commercial success at first.

The New York Times - Books

Indeed, the case can be made that neither "Operation Twist" nor "Quantitative Easing II" (QE2) had a substantial impact on output or employment growth.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The government's land reform has had a substantial impact on food production in Zimbabwe - commercial farms were producing far more during the 1990s," Barrow said.

The Guardian

He added that the abuse had also had a substantial impact on Creasy, who had had a panic button installed in her home.

The Guardian

The temperatures also had a substantial impact on that year's Russian wheat harvest, leading to economic losses of more than $15bn.

The Guardian

The English style soon crossed the Channel and had a substantial impact in France during the second half of the 18th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Encouraging the use of corn-based ethanol is one of the few federal auto policies that has had a substantial impact on reducing oil imports.

The New York Times

First, that the Republican attacks on Obamacare, particularly the charge that Obamacare will cut $716 billion from Medicare over ten years, have had a substantial impact.

The New York Times

Construction had a substantial impact on traffic in 2009.

Forbes

Quite surprisingly, cross-linking had a substantial impact on angiogenic potential.

Biomaterials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Had a substantial impact", ensure the context clearly indicates what was impacted and how. Be specific to strengthen your statement. For example, instead of saying "The policy had a substantial impact", specify "The policy had a substantial impact on employee morale, increasing productivity by 15%".

Common error

Avoid using "Had a substantial impact" when the effect is minor or negligible. Overstating the impact weakens your credibility. Instead, opt for more appropriate phrases like "had a slight effect" or "contributed to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Had a substantial impact" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject has exerted a considerable influence or effect on something. As Ludwig indicates, it's a common and acceptable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Had a substantial impact" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a significant influence or effect. As Ludwig confirms, it's considered correct and appropriate in various writing contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related content, this phrase serves to emphasize the importance of an outcome or change. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what was affected and the nature of the impact, while avoiding exaggeration. Alternatives like "made a considerable difference" or "had a significant effect" can offer nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Made a considerable difference

Emphasizes the degree of change brought about.

Had a significant effect

A more general alternative that highlights the importance of the effect.

Greatly influenced

Focuses on the power to change or affect something.

Left a major mark

Suggests a lasting and easily visible impact.

Had a profound influence

Highlights the depth and pervasiveness of the influence.

Played a crucial role

Indicates that the subject was essential to a particular outcome.

Significantly altered

Emphasizes the transformative nature of the impact.

Had a notable impact

Highlights that the impact was worthy of attention.

Brought about significant change

Focuses on the resulting change that occurred.

Had far-reaching consequences

Emphasizes the broad and extensive effects of the impact.

FAQs

What does "Had a substantial impact" mean?

The phrase "Had a substantial impact" means that something has had a significant or considerable effect on something else. It implies that the effect was noticeable and important.

How can I use "Had a substantial impact" in a sentence?

You can use "Had a substantial impact" to describe the effect of an action, event, or decision. For example: "The new regulations "had a substantial impact" on the industry."

What are some alternatives to "Had a substantial impact"?

Some alternatives include "made a considerable difference", "had a significant effect", or "greatly influenced" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "significant" or "substantial" when describing an impact?

Both "significant" and "substantial" indicate a noteworthy effect. "Substantial" often suggests a greater magnitude than "significant", but the best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of impact you want to convey.