a substantial weakness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial weakness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant flaw or vulnerability in a person, system, or argument. Example: "The report highlighted a substantial weakness in the company's cybersecurity measures that needed immediate attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In the case of paper, the linear elasticity requirement in Hashin's theory is a substantial weakness; the stress-strain behavior of paper is commonly nonlinear and inelastic, as stated earlier.

Journal of Mathematics in Industry

Rasch analysis revealed a substantial weakness of the questionnaire that should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Nevertheless, the inability to test hypotheses about location and causality in later interviews represents a substantial weakness and should be tested in further studies.

BMC Family Practice

Although traditional validation method indicates that the Serbian version of NEI VFQ-25 is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of vision specific QoL in Serbian populations aged 40 years or older, Rasch analysis revealed a substantial weakness of the questionnaire that should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

2) A substantial weakness of the study is that despite the authors having all the necessary reagents in hand, the data pertaining to the functional impact of G9a on enhancer activity is limited to just a few examples, and not coherent ones either (e.g. enhancers shown in Figure 6D don't overlap those shown in Figure 6G-F).

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The observation of more severe features in double mutants suggests that our new Dmd mdx/Large myd mouse model has a more substantial weakness than Large myd mice.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Inclusion body myositis has a unique clinical distribution of involvement, with substantial weakness of the quadriceps and wrist and finger flexors, as well as specific suggestive pathological features including rimmed vacuoles.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Perhaps the most substantial weakness is the lack of a clear demonstration of the use of synonymous rates of evolution.

Biology Direct

The result is that I am totally convinced that the authors are correct in their conclusions and the only substantial weakness is that they don't go a little farther in the interrogation of the MICOS complex or the QIL1 protein.

eLife

The substantial weakness of these mice will also be very informative to evaluate a functional benefit of these therapies.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Hyman won't rule out the possibility that the reports will show "substantial weakness".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a substantial weakness", ensure the context clearly defines what the weakness pertains to, providing specific details for clarity. For example, instead of saying 'The plan has a substantial weakness', specify: 'The plan has a substantial weakness in its risk assessment methodology'.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial weakness" when a minor issue is being discussed. Using such strong wording for a trivial problem can undermine your credibility. Choose a more appropriate phrase like "a minor issue" or "a slight drawback" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial weakness" functions as a noun phrase, identifying a notable deficiency or vulnerability. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to point out a significant flaw.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a substantial weakness" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a significant flaw or vulnerability. As Ludwig AI verifies, it is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, particularly in science and news media. While only a few examples are available, the phrase is effective for highlighting critical issues that require attention or explanation. Related phrases include "a significant vulnerability" and "a major deficiency". Remember to use this phrase when the flaw being discussed is truly significant, and always provide specific details to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant vulnerability

This alternative replaces "weakness" with "vulnerability" and "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing susceptibility to harm.

a major deficiency

This phrase uses "major deficiency" instead of "substantial weakness", highlighting a critical lack or inadequacy.

a critical flaw

This alternative substitutes "weakness" with "flaw" and "substantial" with "critical", pointing to a serious imperfection.

a considerable shortcoming

Here, "substantial weakness" is replaced with "considerable shortcoming", indicating a notable limitation or defect.

a serious impediment

This alternative frames the weakness as a "serious impediment", suggesting a significant obstacle or hindrance.

a grave disadvantage

This phrase replaces the original with "grave disadvantage", emphasizing a severe condition that hinders success.

a pronounced failing

Using "pronounced failing" instead of "substantial weakness" underscores a noticeable deficiency in performance or quality.

a notable imperfection

This substitute describes something as "notable imperfection" instead of "substantial weakness", indicating a significant blemish.

a marked vulnerability

This phrase combines the concepts of "marked" and "vulnerability" to illustrate a highly apparent area of susceptibility.

a palpable defect

Replaces "substantial weakness" with "palpable defect", pointing to an easily perceived fault or imperfection.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a substantial weakness"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant vulnerability", "a major deficiency", or "a critical flaw" depending on the context.

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

Use "a substantial weakness" to point out a significant flaw or vulnerability in a system, argument, or plan. For example: "The study revealed a substantial weakness in the proposed methodology".

Is it appropriate to use "a substantial weakness" in formal writing?

Yes, "a substantial weakness" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you need to emphasize the significant nature of a flaw or vulnerability.

What is the difference between "a substantial weakness" and "a minor weakness"?

"A substantial weakness" indicates a significant flaw that could have serious consequences, while "a minor weakness" refers to a small flaw that is not likely to cause significant problems. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the severity of the issue.