a substantial book

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial book" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a book that is large in size, significant in content, or important in its subject matter. Example: "The library recently acquired a substantial book on the history of art that spans several centuries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

He never systematised his ideas in a substantial book.

The Economist

Shaw finished the work in the summer of 1902 and it was published as a substantial book in August 1903.

The Guardian

Eighteen months later, with the help of funds from the Scottish government and the European Union, he had produced a substantial book about his new neighbors.

The New Yorker

A substantial book, Lectures on Quaternions, was published in 1853, but it failed to achieve much influence among mathematicians and physicists.

Britannica

This is just one take on Ms. Walker's work; many are possible, and several are advanced in the exhibition catalog, a substantial book, published by M.I.T. Press.

The New York Times - Arts

It was ruled eligible to be considered as a musical even though it does not use a live orchestra or have an original score or a substantial book.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

In November Ruskin went abroad again, this time to Venice to research a more substantial book on architecture.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Was there ever yet anything written by mere man that was wished longer by its readers, excepting Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe and The Pilgrim's Progress?" So, before Observer readers weigh in with angry protests, let's concede that War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov, In Search of Lost Time, Vanity Fair, Middlemarch and The Portrait of a Lady are all substantial books that earn their length.

The Guardian - Books

Bauer was a prolific writer, publishing a dozen substantial books and over 60 articles between 1838 and 1848 alone, but no critical edition of these works exists.

SEP

Searching for a substantial New York book list?

The New Yorker

Bovis expects the positive mood to continue next year and reported it had a "substantial" order book for 2015.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial book", consider whether you want to emphasize the book's size, importance, or thoroughness, and choose related phrases accordingly.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial book" when you simply mean "a good book". "Substantial" refers to the book's size, content, or importance, not necessarily its quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial book" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "substantial" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "book". It denotes the size, significance, or comprehensive nature of the book. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial book" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe a book that is large, important, or comprehensive. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it appears frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While it can be replaced with alternatives like "a significant book" or "a weighty tome", it's important to use the phrase appropriately to accurately reflect the book's characteristics and the author's intent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across varied sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant book

Replaces "substantial" with "significant", highlighting the book's importance or impact.

a considerable book

Uses "considerable" instead of "substantial", emphasizing the book's size or amount of content.

a weighty tome

Replaces "book" with "tome" and "substantial" with "weighty", indicating a large and important book.

an extensive book

Emphasizes the book's comprehensive nature and broad coverage of the subject.

a comprehensive book

Highlights the book's thoroughness and completeness in addressing a topic.

a sizable book

Focuses on the physical size of the book, implying a significant length or volume.

a voluminous book

Similar to "sizable", but with a stronger emphasis on the book's large volume.

a lengthy book

Directly refers to the book's length, suggesting a time commitment for reading.

a major work

Shifts the focus to the book's importance and significance as a contribution to its field.

a thorough study

Implies that the book is a detailed and comprehensive examination of a particular subject.

FAQs

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

"A substantial book" is used to describe a book that is large in size, significant in content, or important in its subject matter. For example, "The professor assigned "a substantial book" on quantum physics for the course".

What are some alternatives to saying "a substantial book"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant book", "a considerable book", or "a weighty tome" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a substantial novel"?

Yes, it is correct. The adjective "substantial" can be used to describe any type of book, including a novel, provided that it is large in size or significant in content.

What's the difference between "a substantial book" and "a good book"?

"A substantial book" refers to a book that is large in size, comprehensive, or deals with significant subject matter. "A good book" refers to a book that is enjoyable, well-written, or informative, focusing on its quality rather than its physical or content-related attributes.