a substantial effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"a substantial effort" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an effort that is notable for its great size or importance. For example: "I appreciate your team's substantial effort in completing this project by the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There is a substantial effort above what we've had in past years".

The New York Times - Sports

The industry, he said, had made a substantial effort to regulate itself.

The New York Times

A substantial effort has been made towards greater communication and increased transparency of Library IT activities and operations.

Yale University

Fifteen artists were then asked to develop maquettes -- a process requiring a substantial effort with no guarantee of selection.

The New York Times - Arts

A substantial effort is underway to make robots useful outside controlled environments and without direct human supervision.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Lending over $45 million to 88 nonprofits since 2006 is a substantial effort and shows the organization's commitment and engagement with the community.

Columbia University

Nevertheless, despite a substantial effort in the field of autism genetics, the specific alterations that place one child at greater risk than another remain elusive.

Columbia University

Undergraduate Association President Jonathan Katz '90, who opposes the CFYP plan, said that it would require a substantial effort in order to block passage of the proposal.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You will be given full credit for handing in a solution in which you demonstrate that you have made a substantial effort on each problem.

University of California, Berkeley

"There was a substantial effort from the moment this deal was announced to kill it in Congress," says J-Street political director Dylan Williams.

The Guardian

I further agree with the author that the needs of these children must be met by a well planned strategy requiring a substantial effort by many people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial effort", clearly define the scope and goals of the effort to provide context for its significance. For example: "A substantial effort was dedicated to improving the software's user interface, resulting in a 40% increase in user satisfaction."

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial effort" without providing context or details. Simply stating that "a substantial effort" was made is vague and doesn't convey the true impact or scope of the work. Always provide information on what that effort achieved, or what it consisted of.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial effort" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb (e.g., "made a substantial effort") or as a subject complement. Ludwig AI confirms it is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Science & Research

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial effort" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI. It effectively communicates that a considerable amount of work or resources has been invested. Its neutral to formal register makes it appropriate for various contexts, including news, academia, and professional communications. To enhance clarity, ensure you provide specific details about the nature and scope of the effort. Related phrases include "a considerable endeavor" and "a significant undertaking", providing alternative ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable endeavor

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the ambitious nature of the undertaking.

a significant undertaking

Substitutes "effort" with "undertaking" and "substantial" with "significant", highlighting the importance and scale of the task.

a major attempt

Replaces "substantial" with "major" and "effort" with "attempt", focusing on the scale of the try.

an extensive initiative

Uses "extensive initiative" instead of "substantial effort", suggesting a comprehensive and organized approach.

a serious attempt

Changes "substantial" to "serious", conveying the level of commitment and dedication involved.

a noteworthy endeavor

Replaces "substantial effort" with "noteworthy endeavor", emphasizing the importance of the activity.

a marked attempt

Changes "substantial" to "marked", highlighting that the attempt is clearly visible or noticeable.

a considerable undertaking

Replaces "effort" with "undertaking" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing its size.

a significant endeavor

Substitutes "effort" with "endeavor" and "substantial" with "significant", implying importance.

a large-scale attempt

Replaces "substantial" with "large-scale", highlighting the broad scope of the attempt.

FAQs

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

Use "a substantial effort" to describe an undertaking that requires significant resources, time, or dedication. For example, "The company invested "a substantial effort" in developing the new product line."

What are some alternatives to "a substantial effort"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable endeavor", "a significant undertaking", or "a major attempt", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "substantial effort" or "significant effort"?

Both "substantial effort" and "significant effort" are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on personal preference and the specific context. "Substantial" emphasizes the amount or size of the effort, while "significant" emphasizes its importance or impact.

What does it mean to make "a substantial effort"?

To make "a substantial effort" means to dedicate significant resources, time, and energy to achieve a particular goal. It implies a serious and committed attempt to accomplish something challenging.