a substantial inquiry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial inquiry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant or important investigation or examination of a particular subject or issue. Example: "The committee conducted a substantial inquiry into the financial practices of the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

May, who supported the Hillsborough families through the new inquests and spoke strongly against historical injustice, seemed to be preparing to hold a substantial inquiry into the Orgreave scandals.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"There is always a danger if you set up a very substantial inquiry process of that kind that it takes much longer to get to the truth.

The Guardian

Identified only as a "former Western intelligence officer," he told David Corn, of Mother Jones, that he had provided information to the F.B.I. as part of a "pretty substantial inquiry" into Trump's ties to Russia.

The New Yorker

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general and now chair of the committee, said shortly after he was appointed last October: "Our longer-term priority is the substantial inquiry into the role of the UK government and security and intelligence agencies in relation to detainee treatment and rendition, where there are still unanswered questions".

The Guardian

But on Thursday, the new chair of the committee, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, announced: "Our longer-term priority is the substantial inquiry into the role of the UK government and security and intelligence agencies in relation to detainee treatment and rendition, where there are still unanswered questions".

The Guardian

This brevity precluded more substantial inquiry into content learning, particularly inquiry into any changes in higher-order knowledge (such as the 'applying' or 'analyzing' categories of Bloom's taxonomy).

International Journal of STEM Education

An internal investigation, led by former FBI director Louis Freeh and released to the public Thursday, revealed top officials at Penn State had knowledge of Sandusky's reported sexual crimes on campus but failed to stop them, however, there was no substantial inquiry included in the report about Sandusky's employment at Penn State before 1994.

Huffington Post

While there has been substantial inquiry into the patients information needs in the referral process and methods to address those in other countries, less has occurred in the US [ 21, 22].

BMC Health Services Research

The existence of the statements also reveals that more substantial inquiries were made of defence personnel about the allegations, but raise further questions about the federal government's reluctance to interview the asylum seekers involved.

The Guardian

The course has already drawn substantial inquiries from health care professionals in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Libya, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and the United States.

Johns Hopkins University

There have also been "substantial inquiries" from potential sponsors and talks with possible television partners, though no agreements have been finalized.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial inquiry", ensure that the context clearly indicates the subject and scope of the inquiry. Providing specific details about what is being investigated will enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial inquiry" if the investigation is preliminary or limited in scope. Using a less emphatic phrase such as "an initial review" may be more accurate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial inquiry" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a significant or important investigation, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial inquiry" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that signifies a significant or important investigation. According to Ludwig, it is appropriate for formal contexts and appears most frequently in news, scientific, and academic sources. While there are only a handful of examples, the phrase's meaning and usage are clear. For alternative expressions, consider "a significant investigation" or "a thorough examination". When using the phrase, ensure that the context supports the scope of the inquiry to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant investigation

Replaces 'substantial' with 'significant', emphasizing the importance of the investigation.

a thorough investigation

Emphasizes the completeness and detail of the inquiry.

an extensive investigation

Highlights the broad scope and reach of the inquiry.

a comprehensive inquiry

Suggests that all aspects of the matter are being examined.

a major investigation

Indicates the large scale and importance of the investigation.

an in-depth examination

Focuses on the detailed and probing nature of the examination.

a rigorous inquiry

Highlights the strict and methodical approach of the inquiry.

a detailed probe

Uses 'probe' to suggest a careful and thorough investigation.

a far-reaching inquiry

Emphasizes the wide-ranging impact of the inquiry.

an exhaustive study

Indicates that the study has covered all possible aspects.

FAQs

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

Use "a substantial inquiry" to describe a significant investigation into a particular issue. For example: "The government launched a substantial inquiry into the allegations of corruption."

What's the difference between "a substantial inquiry" and "a preliminary inquiry"?

"A substantial inquiry" suggests a thorough and comprehensive investigation, while "a preliminary inquiry" indicates an initial or exploratory investigation.

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant investigation", "a thorough examination", or "an extensive investigation" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a substantial inquiry" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a substantial inquiry" is more suitable for formal or professional contexts. In informal writing, simpler phrases like "a big investigation" might be more appropriate.