a substantial contract

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial contract" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a contract that is significant in size, value, or importance. Example: "The company secured a substantial contract with the government to provide infrastructure services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Ayre, however, insists that the timing of a "substantial" contract offer would not have made a difference.

The Guardian - Sport

When Robinson Cano rejected the offer of a substantial contract extension from the Yankees before spring training, he was still being represented by Scott Boras, baseball's most formidable and challenging negotiator.

The New York Times - Sports

"Each week the commission receives complaints involving persons employed by large public-sector departments who are alleged to be fully employed by the department concerned, yet also have a direct pecuniary interest in a private business that has a substantial contract with the department," Latham said.

The Guardian

If they did not trade Rodriguez and get out from under the potentially staggering future obligation, it would have sorely affected their ability to offer a substantial contract to Reyes, at least one with a big figure for its first year.

The New York Times - Sports

However, with all three of Wigan's senior props – Stuart Fielden, Andy Coley and Iafeta Paleaaesina – coming out of contract this year, Lenagan and his coach, Michael Maguire, are keen to add to their front-row strength, and have therefore made a substantial contract offer.

The Guardian - Sport

In return for a substantial contract on top of his existing £80m record deal with EMI, Williams agreed to act as "global brand ambassador" and made exclusive live tracks available for download to its customers as well as partnering in a string of other initiatives.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Friedman said that it was obvious that Price deserved a "very substantial contract," and that the team would continue to evaluate his status.

The New York Times - Sports

It is hard to gauge whether Mr. O'Brien's hundreds of thousands of online fans will help him secure a more substantial contract.

The New York Times - Arts

The filings would suggest that overall Mr Crosby's operations in the UK have been loss making over the period – despite the substantial contract with the Conservatives to run the party's election campaign which was agreed in 2012.

Independent

4. Megadeals for Some, Waiting for Others Substantial contract extensions for quarterbacks Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers happened prior to the season.

Huffington Post

"It was very clear in the middle of the last decade that Saipem was winning such a large enough number of substantial contracts that in the small world of Algeria watchers and international oil executives it was an issue and a subject of conversation," said Jonathan Marks, a North Africa analyst at Chatham House, a London research institute.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When negotiating business deals, use "a substantial contract" to emphasize the significant value and impact of the agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial contract" for minor or insignificant agreements. Reserve this phrase for contracts that genuinely represent a major undertaking or commitment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial contract" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "contract". It indicates that the contract is of considerable size, value, or importance, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial contract" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for describing an agreement of significant size, value, or importance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from various reliable sources. While not exceedingly common, it's appropriate for news, business, and formal communication. When writing, ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the magnitude of the agreement to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives like "a significant agreement" or "a major deal" depending on the context. As Ludwig demonstrates, the phrase is most often found in news and business-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant contract

Replaces "substantial" with "significant", keeping the same structure and meaning.

a significant agreement

Replaces "contract" with the more general term "agreement" and "substantial" with "significant".

a considerable agreement

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", maintaining a formal tone.

a sizeable contract

Replaces "substantial" with "sizeable", indicating considerable size or amount.

a major deal

Uses more informal language, replacing "contract" with "deal" and "substantial" with "major".

a large-scale contract

Emphasizes the size and scope of the contract.

an extensive contract

Highlights the comprehensive nature and scope of the contract.

a lucrative agreement

Focuses on the profitable aspect of the contract, replacing "substantial" with "lucrative".

a valuable contract

Highlights the worth and importance of the contract.

a noteworthy contract

Emphasizes the remarkable or important nature of the contract.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial contract" to describe an agreement that is significant in value or scope. For example: "The company secured "a substantial contract" to build a new bridge".

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant agreement", "a major deal", or "a lucrative agreement" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a substantial contract" or "a substantive contract"?

"A substantial contract" refers to the size or value of the contract, while "a substantive contract" would refer to the contract's content or essence. Therefore, "a substantial contract" is more accurate when referring to the importance of the contract.

What's the difference between "a substantial contract" and "a significant contract"?

While both "substantial" and "significant" indicate importance, "substantial" often emphasizes size or amount, while "significant" focuses on overall impact or importance. You can consider "a significant contract" a good substitute for "a substantial contract".