a substantial slice of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial slice of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant portion or amount of something, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The report revealed that a substantial slice of the budget was allocated to research and development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

But they turned off some moderates and independents, who are a substantial slice of the California electorate.

The New York Times

In other words, the air travel of a minority of regular flyers causes a substantial slice of UK emissions.

The Guardian

In return a substantial slice of her fellow countrymen are still prepared to invest respect, affection, even love in her to express uncomplicated patriotic feeling, much as they do when singing the radical William Blake's Jerusalem.

The Guardian

And in all these cases the official view — with which many commentators and a substantial slice of public opinion seemed to agree — was, essentially, that the artists and scholars had brought the trouble on themselves.

The New York Times

In these countries a substantial slice of the public, not just the far right, feels vindicated by the deportation of thousands of jobless Romani squatters from Italy and France.

The Economist

Hailing the "dawn of a 21st-century welfare system", Mr Duncan Smith will be allowed to keep a substantial slice of expected savings to ensure people are not worse off when they move off benefits.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

However, US sales of Bob the Builder merchandise fell 70% in the six months to January this year, which, combined with a weak dollar, took a substantial slice out of Hit's profits.

The Guardian

South Africa hopes to avert a similar crisis by setting up an orderly system to give blacks a more substantial slice of the economic pie.

The New York Times

In particular, it is lobbying for a very substantial slice of New York's $54 billion request for federal aid, he said.

The New York Times

A moreish mix of mushrooms, for umami depth, carrots, onions, cheese, oats and sesame seeds, they are grand and, for £1.95 (takeaway), you get a substantial slice.

The Guardian - Travel

And lobbyists for Occidental Petroleum, BP Amoco, and (flashback alert!) Enron, all of which had business interests in Colombia, were also greasing the wheels for the aid bonanza - as were lobbyists for a pair of helicopter manufacturers looking to get a cut of the substantial slice of the money earmarked for the purchase of drug-war fighting choppers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantial slice of" when you want to emphasize that a significant portion or share of something is being discussed. It adds a more descriptive and nuanced tone compared to simpler terms like "a lot of".

Common error

While "a substantial slice of" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in very formal or academic writing where more precise or technical terms might be more appropriate. For instance, consider using "a significant proportion" or "a considerable percentage" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial slice of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun. It indicates a significant portion or quantity of something. Ludwig provides examples across various contexts where this phrase effectively conveys a considerable part of a whole.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial slice of" is a phrase used to indicate a significant portion or share of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While "a substantial slice of" is versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more precise language in formal or technical settings. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources and can be replaced by alternatives such as "a considerable portion of" or "a significant fraction of" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable portion of

Replaces "slice" with "portion", emphasizing the amount as significant.

a significant fraction of

Substitutes "substantial" with "significant" and "slice" with "fraction", highlighting the importance of the part.

a large segment of

Uses "large" instead of "substantial" and "segment" instead of "slice", focusing on a sizable section.

a sizable chunk of

Replaces "slice" with "chunk", suggesting a more informal and less precise quantity.

a notable share of

Emphasizes that the portion is worthy of attention, using "notable" and "share".

a major part of

Uses more general terms, "major" and "part", to indicate a large component.

a good percentage of

Indicates quantity in terms of percentage. Not as emphatic as "substantial".

a considerable amount of

Focuses on the quantity, using "amount" instead of a division term like "slice".

a hefty piece of

Uses the adjective "hefty" and noun "piece" to indicate that the portion is big.

a generous helping of

Emphasizes abundance and generosity in quantity, often used in the context of food or resources.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantial slice of" in a sentence?

You can use "a substantial slice of" to refer to a significant portion or amount of something. For example, "A substantial slice of the company's profits was reinvested in research and development".

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

You can use alternatives like "a considerable portion of", "a significant fraction of", or "a large segment of" depending on the context.

Is "a substantial slice of" formal or informal?

The phrase "a substantial slice of" falls somewhere in the middle, being suitable for both general writing and news reporting. Using more formal options like "a significant proportion" is preferable for academic texts.

What's the difference between "a substantial slice of" and "a substantial amount of"?

While both refer to a significant quantity, "a substantial slice of" typically implies that something has been divided or that you are referring to a portion of a whole. "A substantial amount of" simply indicates a large quantity, without necessarily implying division.