a substantial description

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial description" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a detailed and significant account or explanation of something. Example: "In the report, the author provided a substantial description of the project's impact on the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

(And, pace Gedin, it is preceded by a substantial description of a flower).

The New Yorker

In none of the numerous biographies of Eisenhower is there a substantial description of how this seemingly simple (though in reality rather complex) military man, with his easygoing and liberal reputation, shed his pro-Russian and sometimes pro-Democratic opinions to become a rigid anti-Communist, a Republican and eventually even a self-styled conservative.

The New York Times - Books

To get a substantial description of reality, the model was extended by the dimension of social support to the demand-control-support model [ 19].

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This online resource (DAVID) integrate, in a faster computational analysis, a wide range of enrichment analysis thought different databases providing also a substantial statistical description.

BMC Systems Biology

One of their governors, Étienne de Flacourt, wrote the first substantial description of the island.

Britannica

The final reports present substantial descriptions of ethnic intermarriage in the communities but lack quantitative analysis, as well as comparative research and discussions of the intermarriage system (Ma et al. 2001).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

This is a substantial reduction in description as compared to the full space time model, yet is exact.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

However, lack of documentation does not appear to have induced a substantial bias in the description of the vaccination status of the patients; vaccination status measured for patients who had written vaccination documentation (20.1%) was close to that measured in those without such documentation (17.4%).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

This is the first clinico-radiological description of a substantial number of community-acquired KP ALRI in hospitalized patients in Cambodia.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Mr. Daschle now serves on the boards of three ethanol companies and works at a Washington law firm where, according to his online job description, "he spends a substantial amount of time providing strategic and policy advice to clients in renewable energy".

The New York Times

The authors speculated that the preference of a substantial proportion of physicians for detailed descriptions, even when this involved listing negative findings, providing no further information, might indicate that referrers interpreted these reports as showing that a thorough examination was performed [27].

Insights into Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial description", ensure that the description itself is indeed detailed and significant, justifying the use of the adjective 'substantial'.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial description" if the description is actually brief or lacking in detail. Ensure the adjective accurately reflects the content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial description" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "description". It specifies the nature of the description, indicating that it is significant, detailed, and comprehensive. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a substantial description" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate a detailed and significant account of something. Ludwig's analysis reveals it is relatively rare, with occurrences in science, news and media, and encyclopedia contexts. While grammatically sound, writers should ensure the adjective "substantial" accurately reflects the level of detail provided. Consider alternatives like "a detailed account" or "a comprehensive explanation" for potentially more common and idiomatic expressions. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is indeed correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a detailed account

Emphasizes the level of detail included in the description.

a comprehensive explanation

Highlights the completeness and thoroughness of the explanation.

a thorough portrayal

Focuses on the completeness and accuracy of the representation.

an extensive elaboration

Stresses the depth and breadth of the expanded explanation.

a significant account

Highlights the importance and weight of the description.

a considerable narrative

Indicates a lengthy and meaningful story or explanation.

a weighty explanation

Emphasizes the importance and depth of the explanation.

a large portrayal

Focuses on the large quantity of the representation.

a meaningful elaboration

Stresses the significance of the expanded explanation.

a sizable account

Highlights the considerable amount of the description.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial description" to indicate that something is explained in detail. For example: "The report contained "a substantial description" of the project's methodology".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial description"?

Alternatives include "a detailed account", "a comprehensive explanation", or "a thorough portrayal", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a detailed description" or "a substantial description"?

Both "a detailed description" and "a substantial description" are grammatically correct. "A detailed description" focuses on the level of detail, while "a substantial description" emphasizes the significance or extensiveness of the description. The better choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "substantial" mean in the context of "a substantial description"?

In this context, "substantial" means considerable in amount, size, or importance. It implies that the description is not superficial but goes into significant depth and covers a wide range of relevant information.