are substantially off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are substantially off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is significantly incorrect or inaccurate. Example: "The estimates provided by the contractor are substantially off from the original budget we discussed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Many on the left and the right agree on one point: The bishops, who have already shut off discussion about ordaining women, are signaling that other long-debated questions about gender in the church — the choice of pronouns in prayers, the study of the male and female aspects of God — are substantially off-limits as well.

The New York Times

Bolt's time was substantially off his season best, 9.82, which he clocked on May 5 in Kingston, Jamaica.

The New York Times - Sports

John Lonski, chief economist at Moody's Inc. and the reigning champion of The Wall Street Journal's survey, has been substantially off base in some surveys.

The New York Times

For the six months, the average stock fund was up 3.7percentt, a pace that is substantially off the historical return of large stocks, 11percentt or so annually since 1926.

The New York Times

The group was also accurate in their forecasts for the entirety of the Northwest Pacific, though their specialized forecasts for the South China Sea were substantially off.

Wikipedia

It is those injured in what he classifies as simple falls -- people hitting their head on the snow or those injured when they collide with another person on the mountain -- who are substantially better off if they are wearing a helmet, Levy said.

The New York Times - Sports

She said that, "by and large," the families who lived in Techwood and Clark Howell "are substantially better off" than they were before the games.

Huffington Post

This can be seen in how much harder it is for those who are struggling to maintain even routine activities, while those who are substantially better off have become way too cautious, preferring to self-insure by holding large balances of cash rather than hiring and reinvesting in plants and equipment.

Huffington Post

It provides a means of identifying "those who are substantially worse off than the average" [ 46](p 56).

BMC Pediatrics

Hence if sustained the improvement we recorded makes the longer run cognitive development of these children closer to those living in families that are substantially better off.

British Medical Journal

The LICO values identify those who are substantially worse off than the average population as it represents the proportion of households in the census tract that attribute 20% more than the average Canadian family to food, shelter, and clothing [ 32].

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are substantially off" to clearly indicate that there is a significant discrepancy or inaccuracy. This phrase is suitable for conveying a notable deviation from an expected or correct value.

Common error

Avoid using "are substantially off" when the difference is minor or negligible. This phrase implies a significant deviation, and using it for small discrepancies can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are substantially off" functions as a descriptor, indicating that something deviates significantly from a standard, expectation, or correct value. The adverb "substantially" modifies the adjective phrase "off", intensifying the degree of deviation.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are substantially off" is used to denote a significant deviation or inaccuracy. While grammatically sound, Ludwig indicates that real-world examples are limited. The phrase functions as a descriptor, indicating that something deviates significantly from a standard, expectation, or correct value. It is suitable for neutral to formal contexts where precision and clear communication of discrepancies are important. When employing this phrase, ensure the deviation is indeed significant to avoid misrepresentation. Related phrases include "are significantly different" and "are markedly divergent".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are substantially different from

Explicitly shows that two or more things are not equal.

are significantly different

This alternative focuses on the difference in magnitude, emphasizing the disparity between two values or states.

are markedly divergent

This alternative suggests a clear and noticeable separation, often used in more formal contexts.

differ considerably

This alternative underscores the magnitude of the difference between two things.

are way off

This is a more informal alternative, indicating a large error or miscalculation.

are quite inaccurate

This focuses on the lack of precision or correctness.

are far from accurate

Emphasizes the distance from being precise or correct.

deviate significantly

This alternative highlights the act of straying from an expected path or value.

are a long way off

Similar to "way off", this emphasizes the distance from a correct or expected point.

are grossly mistaken

Implies a significant and obvious error in judgment or calculation.

FAQs

How can I use "are substantially off" in a sentence?

You can use "are substantially off" to indicate that something is significantly incorrect or inaccurate. For example, "The project's estimated costs are substantially off from the initial budget."

What phrases are similar to "are substantially off"?

Alternatives include "are significantly different", "are markedly divergent", or "are way off", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "are substantially off" or "are slightly off"?

Use "are substantially off" when the difference or error is significant. Use "are slightly off" when the difference is minor. The choice depends on the degree of deviation you want to convey.

What's the difference between "are substantially off" and "are completely wrong"?

"Are substantially off" suggests a significant deviation from the correct value, while "are completely wrong" implies a total lack of correctness. The former allows for some degree of approximation, while the latter does not.