a substantial obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant duty or responsibility that one is required to fulfill. Example: "The contract outlines a substantial obligation for both parties to ensure compliance with the agreed terms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The long stock position is beneficial as long as shares continue to climb, but the short calls, which represent a substantial obligation to deliver 600,000 shares at $32.00 in the event that the contracts are exercised at expiration, are a risk this investor is apparently willing to take.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Thomas has been conspicuously reticent about his support for Weber, and neither loyalty nor a substantial buyout obligation binds him to a coach he didn't hire.

The New York Times

In a statement, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Benton J. Campbell, said that the "substantial obligations" imposed on the defendants would serve as a deterrent to those "who seek to evade their legal obligations".

The New York Times

If the rich separate from the poor and form their own distinct political communities, the reciprocity argument will no longer support the claim that the rich have substantial obligations to the poor.

SEP

One of the most substantial obligations introduced by the IHR is the commitment of states parties to develop, strengthen, and maintain national capacities to identify, investigate, assess, and respond to public health events in their territories and to develop, strengthen, and maintain routine and emergency public health capacities at certain designated points of entry.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

If Turkey were to honour its obligations, a substantial boost to its EU membership would naturally follow.

The Economist

"Given that so many of our obligations are either short-term or indexed or are real obligations, such as medical obligations or Social Security obligations, which are indexed, it wouldn't have a substantial effect, even if there were a willingness to do that, which, of course, there is not," he said.

The New York Times

If just filling out a form can count as a "substantial burden," it's hard to imagine any obligation that would not.

The New Yorker

Property taxes make up a substantial part of California's revenues that fuel general-obligation bond payments.

Forbes

There is therefore a substantial possibility that A.I.G. will be unable to meet its obligations and be forced into liquidation.

The New York Times

In the statement, Tan confirmed: "Cardiff City is expecting a cash injection in the amount of £35m to meet its financial obligations for the period from now until May 2013, including a substantial amount for squad strengthening within budgets.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial obligation", ensure that the context clearly indicates the nature and scope of the duty or responsibility. Provide specific details to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial obligation" when the duty or responsibility is minor or routine. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact when describing genuinely significant obligations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial obligation" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "obligation". It describes a specific type of duty or commitment, emphasizing its significant nature. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial obligation" is a phrase used to denote a significant duty or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness in formal, neutral, and scientific contexts. While not extremely common, the phrase effectively conveys a sense of importance and weight. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly reflects the gravity of the obligation. Alternatives such as "a significant duty" or "a considerable responsibility" can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant duty

Emphasizes the importance of the duty.

a considerable responsibility

Highlights the weight and importance of the responsibility.

a major commitment

Focuses on the level of dedication required.

a weighty responsibility

Emphasizes the burden and significance of the responsibility.

a significant undertaking

Highlights the scale and importance of the task.

a serious liability

Focuses on the potential negative consequences of not fulfilling the obligation.

a pressing commitment

Emphasizes the urgency and importance of the commitment.

a binding requirement

Highlights the legally or morally enforced nature of the obligation.

a critical liability

Highlights the severity of the liability involved.

a meaningful commitment

Highlights the importance of having the commitment.

FAQs

What does "a substantial obligation" mean?

The phrase "a substantial obligation" refers to a significant duty, responsibility, or commitment that one is required to fulfill. It implies that the obligation is considerable in scope or importance.

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

You can use "a substantial obligation" to describe a significant duty or responsibility. For example: "The contract outlines a substantial obligation for both parties to ensure compliance with the agreed terms."

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant duty", "a considerable responsibility", or "a major commitment" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "a substantial obligation" or "a significant obligation"?

Both "a substantial obligation" and "a significant obligation" are appropriate. "Substantial" emphasizes the amount or degree of the obligation, while "significant" emphasizes its importance or consequence. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.