a substantial line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial line" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant or important line, often in the context of a discussion, argument, or artistic work. Example: "The author draws a substantial line between reality and fiction in her latest novel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Near the Jacob Javits Federal Building, there is usually a substantial line waiting at the falafel cart, but it was late and there was no one there except a dwarfish woman with a plain, narrow face.

The New York Times

Pursuant to a substantial line of case law, beginning with R. v. Big M Drug Mart (1985), interpreting freedom of religion guarantees, the hallmark focus has evolved more and more acutely on the rights of the individual.

Johns Hopkins University

ER plans on offering a substantial line of equipment for rental and sales to meet customer needs as well as service for the equipment and those owned by others in the area.

Bplans

A substantial line of evidence implicates PfCK2 in Rh2b phosphorylation: Ser phosphorylation is sensitive to low amounts of heparin [ 36] and to TBCA treatment, a specific CK2 inhibitor [ 45].

Biochemical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It's a nice, substantial line," Hawkins said.

Los Angeles Times

Yesterday, in voting for hospitals to be permitted to sell half their (our) beds to medi-business, you made clear that for you the NHS line is a rather less substantial line to be crossed whenever politically expeditious.

The Guardian

Indeed, the HSQC spectrum of Gemin295 280 shows substantial line broadening and a loss of peak dispersion, indicating a poorly defined structure when SMN is not bound.

Biochemical Journal

The franchise thrived in the 1980s and '90s through the release of videos, a substantial merchandise line, and the theatrical re-release of the trilogy in 1997.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Michael Giancarlo came to Freedom Bank because his business — Atrium Pharmacy of Emerson, which fills and packages prescriptions for nursing homes, group homes and assisted-living facilities — needed a substantial credit line to bridge the gap between when it has to pay for medications and when it is reimbursed by insurance companies.

The New York Times

The only other substantial line item cost was transport, which accounted for 3% of the total cost of implementation.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

In recent months it's been hard to focus on anything but the emotional pig's sty that was 2016, but there is a substantial silver lining: This was phenomenal year for new music.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial line", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'substantial'. Quantify or qualify the line's significance to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial line" when the line in question is not genuinely significant or impactful. Overusing the phrase can diminish its effect and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial line" functions as a noun phrase modified by the adjective "substantial". It typically serves to identify a significant boundary, amount, or distinction. Ludwig's examples show its use in diverse contexts like legal cases, equipment rental, and scientific evidence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a substantial line" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that emphasizes the significance or size of a line in various contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase, though not very common, is appropriate for use in news, scientific, and academic writing. While alternatives like "a significant boundary" or "a notable division" may offer slightly different nuances, understanding the context is key to choosing the most effective wording. Remember to quantify or qualify the line's importance to avoid ambiguity and overstating its significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant boundary

Replaces "substantial" with "significant" and "line" with "boundary", altering the image while keeping the focus on importance.

a considerable demarcation

Substitutes "substantial" with "considerable" and "line" with "demarcation", increasing formality.

a notable division

Uses "notable" for "substantial" and "division" for "line", shifting the focus to clear separation.

a marked distinction

Replaces both words to emphasize a clear and obvious difference.

a meaningful threshold

Highlights the importance of a limit or point of change.

a weighty provision

Employs "weighty" to signify the importance of a provision.

a powerful argument

Replaces "line" with "argument", focusing on a strong point in reasoning.

a solid product range

Refers to a diverse group of products.

an impressive body of evidence

Highlights a significant amount of evidence to back a claim.

a considerable expense

Illustrates something costly or economically important.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial line" to describe a significant division, boundary, or element in various contexts. For example, "The author draws "a substantial line" between the protagonist's past and present actions".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial line"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a significant boundary", "a notable division", or "a marked distinction".

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

Both "substantial line" and "significant line" are correct, but "substantial" implies more quantity in the sense of amount, size or degree compared to something else, while "significant" highlights importance or impact. The choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.

What does "a substantial line" mean in a business context?

In a business context, "a substantial line" might refer to a significant product line, a considerable credit line, or a key item in a budget. The term denotes a large or important aspect of the business's operations or finances.