are substantially based on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are substantially based on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is largely derived from or influenced by another source or idea. Example: "The conclusions of the research paper are substantially based on previous studies conducted in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Where there's a will, there is, indeed, a way: a meme now circulating throughout the denialosphere is that the IPCC's conclusions about regional warmth contradict our findings, despite the fact that those conclusions are substantially based on our findings.

The Guardian - Opinion

Janine Gordon, who is known as JahJah and is also a musician and multimedia artist, has filed suit against Mr. McGinley in federal court in Manhattan, saying that at least 150 of his photographs are "substantially based" on her work and are violations of her copyright protections.

The New York Times

All these algorithms are substantially based on the presence of clinical/radiological risk factors for BCVI [13], but they seem to lack in sensitivity, because it has been proven that BCVI can occur even in the absence of clinical-radiological risk factors [4, 6, 7, 34, 35].

Insights into Imaging

In addition to certification in the Feldenkrais Method, 28.9% (113/391) of responders had additional certifications in 1 or more techniques that are substantially based on the teaching of Moshe Feldenkrais, DSc, originator of the Feldenkrais Method.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The work of these engineers was substantially based on pioneering research and development by a team of British engineers and scientists at the National Physical Laboratory, a government R&D establishment, under its leader Donald Davies.

The Guardian - Tech

The reputation the second century won as a golden age was substantially based on the unusual stability of the political establishment during this period and on the economic prosperity that helped to nurture.

The New York Times - Arts

In July, Janine Gordon, who is known as JahJah and is also a musician and multimedia artist, sued Mr. McGinley — who is best known for his artfully constructed visions of young men and women — claiming that at least 150 of his photographs were "substantially based" on her own and were violations of her copyright.

The New York Times

It is substantially based on multi-scale and fractal concepts.

Wear

The use of this scale is substantially based on the hypothesis that there is a positive correlation between a phobic attitude towards food with a high technological content, on the one hand, and a more general aversion to novelties and little confidence in science, on the other (Cox and Evans 2008; Evans et al. 2010a; Evans et al. 2010b).

Agricultural and Food Economics

The ratio of these policies is substantially based on the idea, supported by mainstream literature, that coordinated relationships in the supply chain are particularly advantageous for small farms allowing them to mitigate market risks and face the market failures, such as the lack of innovative strategies, as well as poor access to credit and insurance and so on.

Agricultural and Food Economics

The Canberra Central district is substantially based on Walter Burley Griffin's designs.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are substantially based on", ensure that the degree of dependence is significant and demonstrable. Provide evidence or examples to support the claim that one thing is largely derived from another.

Common error

Avoid using "are substantially based on" when the relationship is minor or superficial. If the connection is weak, opt for phrases like "are partially influenced by" or "are tangentially related to" to accurately reflect the level of dependence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are substantially based on" functions as a linking phrase to indicate that something is largely derived from or influenced by another source or idea. As confirmed by Ludwig, this is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are substantially based on" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates a significant degree of dependence or influence. As Ludwig confirms, it is most commonly found in scientific, news, and wiki contexts, reflecting its use in analytical and descriptive writing. While not extremely frequent, the phrase serves a crucial role in establishing clear connections between concepts. When using this phrase, ensure that the dependence is significant and support the claim with evidence, avoiding overstatement or superficial connections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are largely predicated on

Replaces "based" with "predicated", emphasizing the foundational aspect; "largely" modifies the extent of the foundation.

are significantly reliant on

Uses "reliant" instead of "based", highlighting the dependence; "significantly" quantifies the reliance.

are heavily dependent on

Emphasizes the dependence using "heavily", replacing "based" with a more direct term.

are primarily derived from

Focuses on the origin or derivation, using "derived" in place of "based".

are mainly grounded in

Emphasizes the conceptual foundation with "grounded", substituting "based".

are considerably influenced by

Highlights the influence rather than the base, using "influenced" as the core.

are substantially informed by

Focuses on the informational input, with "informed" replacing "based".

are fundamentally rooted in

Stresses the deep origin with "rooted", replacing "based" to show foundational nature.

are essentially sourced from

Highlights where it originates or comes from.

are materially constituted by

Changes the emphasis to the composition, indicating the elements forming the base.

FAQs

How can I use "are substantially based on" in a sentence?

You can use "are substantially based on" to indicate that something is largely derived from or influenced by something else. For example, "The conclusions of the research /s/paper+are+substantially+based+on previous studies conducted in the field."

What are some alternatives to "are substantially based on"?

Some alternatives include "are largely predicated on", "are significantly reliant on", or "are heavily dependent on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is substantially based on" instead of "are substantially based on"?

Yes, the verb form should agree with the subject. Use "is substantially based on" for singular subjects and "are substantially based on" for plural subjects.

What is the difference between "are substantially based on" and "are slightly based on"?

"Are substantially based on" implies a significant degree of influence or derivation, whereas "are slightly based on" suggests only a minor or tangential connection. The choice depends on the actual level of dependence.