a substantial achievement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial achievement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an accomplishment that is significant or considerable in nature. Example: "Winning the national championship was a substantial achievement for the team and its coach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"It undermines a central pillar of the good governance of FIFA, and it destroys a substantial achievement of the reforms".

The New York Times - Sports

It is a substantial achievement for the Obama Administration and the F.C.C. chairman Tom Wheeler, and also for the many groups that fought hard for the outcome.

The New Yorker

And a spreading sense of dismay and hopelessness would give the terrorist a substantial achievement, even if loss of life is averted.

The Guardian - Opinion

If President Obama can indeed guide the parties toward an agreement that puts the federal government on a sustainable fiscal path, it would be a substantial achievement and would vindicate his early promise as a bipartisan leader.

The New Yorker

During the event, Jered Gruber, a former professional cyclist who has become one half of the renowned photography team Gruber Images, made a habit of pointing out at lunchtime that the morning's endeavours amounted to a substantial achievement in their own right, and repeating them in the afternoon seemed a little unnecessary.

The Guardian

Re "Retrieving the Recyclables: Workers Pick Up Where New Yorkers Leave Off" (news article, June 27): Yard waste adds 5 to 15percentt or more to recycling rates in less densely populated cities, so that New York's 20percentt residential recycling rate without yard waste is a substantial achievement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"It's a pretty substantial achievement," the official said, but noted the nation still faced a large funding gap, partly because of its huge security bill.

Huffington Post

And while she does indeed tweet, it's a more substantial achievement that's won her the place.

Independent

That is a less substantial achievement than rolling back crime or welfare, but it is what television viewers remember about the man who has been dubbed "America's mayor".

The Economist

It's a substantial narrative achievement: a show whose architecture is as much a star as its actors.

The New Yorker

The Anglo-Irish Agreement was a substantial political achievement in many ways and helped to pave the way for the improved relationships that eventually gave birth to the peace process.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantial achievement" to describe accomplishments that have a significant positive impact or demonstrate considerable effort and skill.

Common error

While grammatically correct, avoid using "a substantial achievement" in very casual conversations. Simpler terms like "great job" or "well done" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial achievement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes something accomplished and important.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial achievement" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a significant accomplishment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers useful insights. It's particularly suitable for formal and professional settings, as confirmed by its prevalence in news, science, and business contexts. While direct and commendatory, remember to modulate its usage based on the audience and situation to avoid sounding stilted in more casual conversations. Consider alternatives like "a significant accomplishment" or "a remarkable success" for similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant accomplishment

Replaces "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the achievement.

a considerable feat

Uses "considerable feat" instead, highlighting the skill and effort involved.

a major accomplishment

Substitutes "substantial" with "major", focusing on the scale of the achievement.

a remarkable success

Emphasizes the positive outcome and noteworthy nature of the achievement.

a noteworthy accomplishment

Highlights that the accomplishment is deserving of attention.

a laudable endeavor

Focuses on the praiseworthy nature of the effort and outcome.

an impressive accomplishment

Replaces "substantial" with "impressive", emphasizing the admiration the achievement inspires.

a triumph

A more concise and impactful way to describe a significant victory or achievement.

a breakthrough

Implies the achievement represents a significant advancement or discovery.

a milestone

Highlights the achievement as a key event or turning point.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantial achievement" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantial achievement" to describe a significant accomplishment, for example: "Completing the project ahead of schedule was "a substantial achievement" for the team".

What can I say instead of "a substantial achievement"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant accomplishment", "a considerable feat", or "a major accomplishment" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a substantial achievement" or "substantial achievements"?

"A substantial achievement" refers to a single, significant accomplishment. "Substantial achievements" refers to multiple accomplishments. Choose the form that matches the number of achievements you're describing.

Is "substantial achievement" formal?

Yes, "substantial achievement" is generally considered a formal expression. While suitable for professional and academic contexts, less formal language may be more appropriate in casual settings.