a substantially longer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantially longer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing lengths, durations, or extents, indicating that something is significantly greater in size or time than something else. Example: "The new model has a substantially longer battery life compared to the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Stability experiments in mouse plasma showed that 17 a has a substantially longer plasma half-life than does 9 a (17 a, t1/2>120 min) and is considerably more stable than the corresponding bromine derivative 16 a (Table  2).

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

LED lights, on the other hand, generate virtually no heat and have a substantially longer lifespan than incandescent lights.

University of California, Berkeley

We had also just moved to the country, swapping our once simple commute to a substantially longer train journey which ate into our family time.

The Guardian

Judge Walter said that he would have liked to sentence Mr. Lerach to a "substantially" longer prison term, but deferred to a plea agreement with prosecutors that was reached Sept. 18, which called for a maximum of two years.

The New York Times

Using a substantially longer sample across an entire market cycle, we show that only 14 27% of fuel savings are reflected in a higher rate during normal market conditions, while the sign of the relationship flips during market "booms" such that energy inefficient vessels attract a premium.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

This resulted in brand #4 taking a substantially longer time to reach its maximum population density.

International Journal of Food Contamination

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Co-cultures were incubated for 48 or 72 h, a time substantially longer than a typical 4-h ADCC assay, which enabled the immunomodulatory effects of lenalidomide to have maximal impact.

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

You are considered to be traveling away from home if you are required to be away from your tax home for a period substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, and you need to get sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away.

Forbes

Given the evidence that cell state changes over time, it seems clear that if the time constant of such fluctuation is short and the length of exposure to a stimulus substantially longer, each cell in a population might show 'average' behavior rather than the highly individualistic functionality described above [ 10- 13].

BMC Biology

The latter observation is significant, since the ICR between Tmu-dif-1 and Tmu-aph-1 is predicted to be 3033 nt long, a distance substantially longer than the length of an average ICR in C. elegans, although ICRs of similar length are also present in some C. elegans operons (Morton and Blumenthal 2011).

Genetics

However, different display types can have widely varying decay times, so that a single refresh of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor or projector for instance may produce a flash stimulus substantially longer than that produced by a CRT monitor, despite the refresh rates and intended flash durations being identical.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing durations, clarify the units being measured (e.g., "a substantially longer time period", "a substantially longer distance").

Common error

Avoid using "a substantially longer" when the difference is marginal or insignificant. Ensure the length or duration difference is genuinely considerable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantially longer" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that something possesses a significantly greater length or duration than something else. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

13%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantially longer" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase used to emphasize a considerable difference in length or duration. Ludwig AI's analysis reveals it's most commonly found in scientific contexts but also appears in news and media. When using the phrase, ensure the difference you're describing is genuinely significant and consider alternative phrases like "a significantly longer" or "a considerably longer" to fine-tune your emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significantly longer

Emphasizes the notable difference in length or duration.

a considerably longer

Indicates a noticeable increase in length or duration.

a markedly longer

Highlights the obvious or easily perceived increase in length or duration.

a notably longer

Suggests the increased length or duration is worthy of attention.

a much longer

A more general way to express a greater length or duration.

a greatly longer

Emphasizes the magnitude of the increased length or duration.

a vastly longer

Indicates a very large difference in length or duration.

an appreciably longer

Suggests the increased length or duration is easily perceived or measured.

an extensively longer

Implies a large and comprehensive increase in length or duration.

a way longer

An informal expression indicating a significant increase in length or duration.

FAQs

How can I use "a substantially longer" in a sentence?

Use "a substantially longer" to compare two durations or lengths, emphasizing a significant difference. For example: "The new study had "a substantially longer" follow-up period."

What are some alternatives to "a substantially longer"?

Alternatives include "a significantly longer", "a considerably longer", or "a much longer", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "a substantially longer" in formal writing?

Yes, "a substantially longer" is suitable for formal writing, as it conveys a clear and quantifiable difference. However, ensure the context warrants such emphasis.

What's the difference between "a significantly longer" and "a substantially longer"?

While similar, "significantly longer" emphasizes statistical or practical importance, whereas "substantially longer" primarily highlights the magnitude of the difference in length or duration. They are often interchangeable but may have slightly different connotations depending on the field.