a substantial factor in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial factor in" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where you want to indicate that something plays a significant role or influence in a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The evidence presented in court showed that the defendant was a substantial factor in the events leading to the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

It follows that this speed was not a substantial factor in bringing about the accident.

Harvard University

The negligence must also be a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff's harm.

Harvard University

Judge Jackson acknowledged the need to weigh whether the employee's speech was a substantial factor in being fired.

The New York Times

Nowadays, software effort and time estimation becomes a substantial factor in software engineering community.

Procedia Computer Science

In the first stage, jurors determined that exposure to glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — was a substantial factor in Edwin Hardeman's cancer diagnosis.

The Washington Post

The jury said Propulsid, which was removed from the market in 2000 after being linked to 70 deaths, was not a substantial factor in the death of John Calvert of Napa, Calif.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Plaintiffs, again focusing on the third jury interrogatory, argue that the trial judge erred in applying a "but for" rather than a "substantial factor" test in his instructions concerning proximate causation relative to that question.

Harvard University

"The growth in traffic since these bridges were designed has been a very substantial factor in the need for strengthening and upgrading these bridges.

The Telegraph

"The cooperation of Mary Anne Catalano was a significant and substantial factor in obtaining a felony conviction against Dr. Anthony Galea," Assistant United States Attorney Paul Campana wrote in his motion.

The New York Times - Sports

In my view, these decisions properly reflect the need to show more than "negligence" in police training procedures before a jury should be permitted to find that the city's policy was a material element and substantial factor in bringing about the alleged deprivation of protected federal rights.

Cornell University

The authors concluded that personal values are an ornamental, rather than substantial, factor in decision-making.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial factor in", ensure the context clearly establishes the relationship between the factor and the outcome. Avoid vagueness by specifying the nature of the impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial factor in" when the element is only a minor contributor. Overstating the significance can mislead your audience about the true dynamics at play.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial factor in" functions primarily as a causal link, indicating that something has had a considerable impact on a specific result or event. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it is frequently used in legal, scientific, and news contexts to establish causation or influence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

27%

Science

41%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial factor in" is a versatile phrase used to convey that something played a significant role or influence in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly employed in news, academic, and scientific writing to establish causality and emphasize the importance of specific elements. When writing, ensure that the connection between the factor and outcome is clearly defined to avoid vagueness, and be mindful not to overstate the factor's true significance. Related phrases include "a significant element in" and "a major contributor to", which can be used to vary your phrasing while maintaining a similar core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant element in

Replaces "substantial factor" with "significant element", emphasizing the importance of the element.

a major contributor to

Highlights the contributing aspect, focusing on the role it plays in bringing about a result.

a key component of

Emphasizes the role as an essential part of a larger whole.

an important influence on

Shifts the focus to the influence exerted by the factor.

a crucial aspect of

Highlights the critical nature of the aspect involved.

instrumental in

Focuses on the enabling role of the factor in achieving something.

a central determinant of

Emphasizes the decisive role in shaping the outcome.

plays a large part in

Uses more informal language to convey the significant role.

a primary driver of

Highlights the propelling or motivating force behind something.

a notable force behind

Emphasizes the impact and recognizability of the driving force.

FAQs

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

Use "a substantial factor in" to indicate that something played a significant role or had a notable influence on a particular situation or outcome. For example, "The defendant's negligence was "a substantial factor in" the accident".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial factor in"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant element in", "a major contributor to", or "a key component of" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "very substantial factor"?

While not grammatically incorrect, using "very substantial factor" can be redundant. "Substantial" already implies a significant degree. Consider using alternatives like "critical factor" or "essential element" for emphasis.

What is the difference between "a substantial factor in" and "the only factor in"?

"A substantial factor in" indicates one of potentially many significant influences, while "the only factor in" suggests that nothing else contributed to the outcome. Using the latter implies exclusivity, which should be supported by evidence.