a substantial underestimation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial underestimation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where the true value or impact of something has been significantly undervalued or miscalculated. Example: "The report revealed a substantial underestimation of the project's costs, leading to budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

However, neglecting to account for ageing error in natural mortality rate estimates resulted in a substantial underestimation of reference points.

Fisheries Research

But that may be a "substantial underestimation," the study's authors wrote, because many incidents are never made public.

The New York Times

The other explanation for the ANU's anomalous finding is what appears to be a substantial underestimation of the ~70% of national emissions outside of the power sector – the emissions from direct combustion, transport, fugitives, agriculture, industrial processes, waste, and land use and forestry (LULUCF).

The Guardian - Opinion

The influence of noise in the data is especially relevant for the estimates of PBF: high noise levels (i.e. low CNR values) lead to a substantial underestimation and a significant loss of accuracy in the PBF estimates.

Insights into Imaging

This in turn may result in a substantial underestimation of the true SNP heritability.

Behavior Genetics

Furthermore, additional limitations of our analysis may have caused a substantial underestimation of the cost-effectiveness of the WINGS intervention.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

However, there is a potential mechanism which could cause a more substantial underestimation: using only times between tests during pregnancy excludes early pregnancy in which women might not be aware of being pregnant and thus be less careful in avoiding the exposure to toxoplasmosis.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Conclusions: These results suggest that uncontrolled confounding from a beneficial parameter, and imprecision of this confounder, may cause substantial underestimation of the effects of a toxic exposure.

Harvard University

These results suggest that uncontrolled confounding from a beneficial parameter, and imprecision of this confounder, may cause substantial underestimation of the effects of a toxic exposure.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Xu et al. used linked records (2001 2005) from the NSW Midwives Data Collection MDCC) and the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (RBDM) in a predominantly methodological paper to demonstrate substantial underestimation in both databases of the number of newborns with mothers identifying as Indigenous [ 30].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Incomplete capture of NFFS physician claims can have serious consequences; previous research has demonstrated substantial underestimation of diabetes prevalence associated with a lack of shadow billing.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a substantial underestimation", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being underestimated and the potential consequences of this underestimation.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial underestimation" when a simple "underestimation" suffices. Overusing "substantial" can weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial underestimation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig's examples show its use in academic and scientific contexts, where precision in evaluating quantities or effects is crucial.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

84%

News & Media

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial underestimation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that indicates a significant undervaluation or miscalculation. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently found in scientific and academic contexts. While it's acceptable to use, ensure the context warrants the emphasis provided by "substantial", avoiding overstatement. Be clear about what is being underestimated and the implications. Consider alternatives like "significant underestimate" or "major undervaluation" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase appears frequently in the scientific literature and is considered a valid expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant underestimate

Replaces 'substantial' with 'significant' and uses the single-word form of 'underestimation'.

a major undervaluation

Substitutes 'underestimation' with 'undervaluation', highlighting the aspect of undervaluing something.

a considerable miscalculation

Focuses on the miscalculation aspect, using 'considerable' to emphasize the extent.

a gross misjudgment

Emphasizes the error in judgment, implying a significant mistake.

a marked understatement

Highlights that the actual value or impact is much greater than what is stated.

a noteworthy minimization

Focuses on reducing the importance or size of something to a notable degree.

a considerable downplaying

Highlights the action of diminishing the significance of something.

a large discounting

Emphasizes reducing the value or importance attributed to something.

a tangible belittlement

Focuses on diminishing or making something seem less important.

a patent misrepresentation

Highlights that the inaccurate representation is obvious and clear.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial underestimation" to describe a situation where something is significantly undervalued or miscalculated. For example, "There was "a substantial underestimation" of the project's costs".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial underestimation"?

Alternatives include "a significant underestimate", "a major undervaluation", or "a considerable miscalculation", depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "substantial" before "underestimation"?

No, using "substantial" is not always necessary. It emphasizes the degree of underestimation. If the underestimation is significant, then "substantial" is appropriate; otherwise, "an underestimation" may suffice.

What's the difference between "a substantial underestimation" and "a slight underestimation"?

"A substantial underestimation" indicates a significant miscalculation or undervaluation, while "a slight underestimation" suggests a minor or negligible miscalculation.