a substantial flow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial flow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or considerable movement of something, such as water, information, or resources. Example: "The river experienced a substantial flow after the heavy rainfall, leading to concerns about flooding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The entry of hundreds of thousands of farm workers provided camouflage for a substantial flow of undocumented labour.Nonetheless, the logic of temporary migration appears irresistible.

The Economist

Intermittently, at least since about 1830 and rather steadily from 1850, there has been a substantial flow of immigrant population into France.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All of this should guarantee a substantial flow of tourists, but Yemen remains a troubled place, enough so that the number of foreign visitors plunged after the Cole bombing and the simultaneous renewal of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the Atlantis's 2000 mission, according to the NASA in-flight anomaly report, the much smaller gap caused a "substantial flow path" of plasma past the protective leading edge panels.

The New York Times

If California does commit to tropical forest protection, advocates of REDD hope other states and countries, and perhaps large companies that buy food commodities, will follow suit, creating a substantial flow of funds.

The New York Times

Finally, the state's economic recovery generated a substantial flow of private investments into the real estate market.

Geoforum

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

This Df suggests operation of a reaction-limited cluster cluster aggregation (RCLA) in the suspensions or the possibility that the aggregate underwent a substantial flow-induced rearrangement upon shearing.

Acta Materialia

By contrast, Europe's richer nations, led by Germany, resist institutionalizing any substantial flow of money toward Greece apart from a modest amount of development aid long made available to Europe's poorer regions for specific projects.

The New York Times

However, there is no empirical evidence of any substantial flows of medicine from LMI countries to high-income countries [ 12].

Globalization and Health

"There has been a substantial anecdotal flow over the last six to eight weeks of things that felt a little bit better".

The Guardian

From chemical shift measurements it is inferred that the adsorbed Bi remains in its zero-valent state over the entire potential range under study, despite a substantial charge flow during cycling.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial flow", ensure the context clearly indicates what is flowing (e.g., "a substantial flow of data", "a substantial flow of investment").

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial flow" when describing static quantities or conditions. This phrase is best suited for describing movement, transfer, or continuous supply.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial flow" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a significant movement or transfer of something, whether tangible or intangible, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial flow" is a noun phrase used to describe a significant movement or transfer of something. While grammatically correct and widely understood, its usage is more common in formal contexts such as news, science, and business, as confirmed by Ludwig. Alternatives like "a significant current" or "a considerable influx" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Remember to specify what is flowing when using this phrase for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant current

Replaces "flow" with "current" and "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing the continuous movement.

a considerable influx

Substitutes "flow" with "influx," highlighting a large arrival or entry.

a large stream

Replaces "flow" with "stream" and "substantial" with "large", focusing on the continuous movement like a river.

a massive surge

Emphasizes a sudden and powerful increase in movement using "surge".

a heavy outpouring

Focuses on the abundant and uncontrolled release of something.

a plentiful supply

Shifts the focus to the availability and abundance of something.

an abundant stream

Replaces "flow" with "stream" and "substantial" with "abundant" to emphasize the quantity and continuous movement.

a generous supply

Highlights the ample quantity and beneficial nature of the supply.

a considerable movement

Uses "movement" instead of "flow", broadening the context to include non-liquid entities.

a significant transfer

Focuses on the act of moving something from one place to another.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial flow" to describe a significant movement or transfer of something. For example, "The project requires a substantial flow of resources" or "There was a substantial flow of traffic after the concert".

What's a good substitute for "a substantial flow"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a significant current", "a considerable influx", or "a large stream".

Is it better to say "a substantial flow" or "a significant flow"?

Both "a substantial flow" and "a significant flow" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. "Substantial" emphasizes the size or amount, while "significant" emphasizes the importance or impact.

Can "a substantial flow" be used for abstract concepts?

Yes, "a substantial flow" can be used for abstract concepts such as information, data, or funds. For instance, "There was a substantial flow of information between the departments".