a substantial risk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial risk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the likelihood or potential for harm or negative outcomes in various contexts, such as finance, health, or safety. Example: "Investing in volatile markets carries a substantial risk of losing your initial capital."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are they not taking a substantial risk?

The Guardian - Sport

There is a substantial risk of a recession in 2008.

The New York Times

Mr. Khan's lawyers claim that "there is a substantial risk that the torture evidence will disappear".

The New York Times

If you have confidence that the country will move forward, you may take a substantial risk".

The New York Times - Sports

It did not create a "substantial risk of serious physical injury".

The New York Times

"For geriatric patients there is a substantial risk, 50percentt or higher," Dr. Oaklander said.

The New York Times

In this context, any form of narrative feedback runs a substantial risk of identifying individuals.

The Guardian

Ms. Brown said she continued to believe that the seats posed a substantial risk to children.

The New York Times

It would, therefore, be difficult to categorise ruptured membranes as a substantial risk to life.

The Guardian - Opinion

This option ran a substantial risk of alienating members and would prompt some to abandon LinkedIn.

Harvard Business Review

Similarly, the state is precluded from transferring individuals to another state where there exists a substantial risk of torture.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a substantial risk", ensure the context clearly defines what is at risk and the potential consequences. Quantifying the risk, if possible, adds clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial risk" to describe situations where the potential for harm is minimal or unsupported by evidence. Exaggerating the risk can undermine credibility and mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial risk" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig's examples indicate its role in identifying situations where significant potential harm or negative outcomes exist. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial risk" is a widely used phrase to denote a significant possibility of encountering danger or negative outcomes. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in a variety of contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal communications. When employing this phrase, consider the specific implications of the risk and ensure sufficient context to fully inform the audience. To avoid overstatement, correlate your claim with concrete evidence. For alternatives, consider using "a significant risk" or "a considerable risk", which both convey a similar degree of potential harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant risk

Replaces "substantial" with "significant", implying a noteworthy and potentially impactful level of risk.

a considerable risk

Uses "considerable" to emphasize the magnitude or importance of the risk involved.

a notable risk

Employs "notable" to highlight that the risk is worthy of attention or easily observed.

a major risk

Substitutes "substantial" with "major", suggesting the risk is of great importance or consequence.

a pronounced risk

Replaces "substantial" with "pronounced", indicating the risk is clearly evident or noticeable.

a serious risk

Uses "serious" to convey that the risk could lead to severe or harmful outcomes.

a genuine risk

Employs "genuine" to stress that the risk is real and not merely perceived or theoretical.

a tangible risk

Replaces "substantial" with "tangible", highlighting that the risk is concrete and easily identifiable.

a credible risk

Substitutes "substantial" with "credible", implying the risk is believable and supported by evidence.

a material risk

Uses "material" to suggest the risk could significantly affect a company's financial performance or other measurable outcomes.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial risk" to highlight the possibility of significant negative consequences. For example: "Investing in this venture carries "a substantial risk" of financial loss."

What are some alternatives to "a substantial risk"?

Alternatives to "a substantial risk" include "a significant risk", "a considerable risk", or "a major risk" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a substantial risk" or "a high risk"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a substantial risk" suggests that the risk is significant in terms of magnitude or potential impact, while "a high risk" emphasizes the probability of the risk occurring.

What's the difference between "a substantial risk" and "a potential risk"?

"A potential risk" refers to a risk that could possibly occur, while "a substantial risk" indicates a risk that is not only possible but also significant in its potential impact or likelihood. "Substantial" implies the risk is considerable, while "potential" simply means it exists as a possibility.