be substantial to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be substantial to" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey the idea of something being significant or important to someone or something, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The findings of the research will be substantial to our understanding of climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

If intervention substantially improves the prospects of the children concerned and the gain must be substantial, to override the presumption that parents make the best parents then that is justification in itself.

The Economist

It was therefore appropriate to require a health threat to be "substantial" to qualify for an exemption, the brief said.

The New York Times

Any further effort to stimulate growth must be substantial to be meaningful, and any reduction in the Fed's existing efforts would represent a significant shift in policy.

The New York Times

I don't know how much money he'll have left over from the national campaign, but it will be substantial, to help his friends and contribute against his foes.

The New York Times

The transition to such accounts could be incredibly costly, requiring transfers of trillions of dollars from general revenues, so the gains would have to be substantial to be worth the price.

The New York Times

"Some of them have made it very clear to me that they resist coming into the South African market, sometimes with substantial money, or money that would be substantial to us and our economy because they've been here before and believe they've been taken to the cleaners," said Mr. Barrow, chairman of the country's newly formed Insider Trading Directorate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The implications of this alternative are substantial, to say the least.

The Guardian - Opinion

For those in the private sector who do, the rewards are substantial, to companies and their shareholders.

The New York Times

Therefore, it is substantial to optimize and accelerate its implementation.

Computer Languages, Systems & Structures

This indicates that reproducibility and repeatability were substantial to almost perfect, respectively.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Consequently, it is substantial to develop the right assistive robot or device for them.

Robotics and Biomimetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace the phrase "be substantial to" with alternatives like "be significant for", "be crucial for", or "be essential for", depending on the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "to" with "substantial" when indicating benefit or importance; instead, opt for prepositions like "for" or "in" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be substantial to" aims to express that something is significantly important or beneficial. However, it's not a standard grammatical construction. Alternatives like "be significant for" or "be crucial for" are more appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

65%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be substantial to" is used to express the idea that something is significantly important or beneficial. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrasing is not grammatically correct in standard written English. While examples exist across various sources, including news and scientific publications, it is advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "be significant for", "be crucial for", or "be essential for". These alternatives offer clarity and precision in formal writing, aligning better with established grammatical norms. Therefore, while the phrase appears in various contexts, writers should consider using more accurate alternatives to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be significant for

Replaces "substantial" with "significant" and changes the preposition to "for", focusing on importance or consequence.

be crucial for

Emphasizes the critical necessity of something, replacing "substantial" with "crucial".

be essential for

Highlights the fundamental importance, similar to "crucial" but with a slightly different nuance.

be vital for

Indicates something is necessary for the survival or success of something else.

be important for

A more general way to express the relevance or value of something.

be meaningful for

Highlights the significance or purpose something holds.

be beneficial for

Focuses on the positive effects or advantages something provides.

be advantageous for

Similar to "beneficial", but emphasizes the strategic advantage.

be valuable for

Highlights the worth or usefulness of something.

be consequential for

Emphasizes the results or effects that something will have.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "be substantial to"?

You can use alternatives like "be significant for", "be crucial for", or "be essential for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be substantial to" or "be substantial for"?

"Be substantial for" is grammatically more correct than "be substantial to" when indicating benefit or importance. The preposition "for" aligns better with the intended meaning.

How to use "be substantial for" in a sentence?

Example: "The new evidence will "be substantial for" our understanding of the case." This illustrates the significance of the evidence.

What's the difference between "be substantial to" and "be significant to"?

While "be substantial to" is not standard English, "be significant to" is acceptable. "Significant" emphasizes importance or consequence, making it a clearer and more grammatically sound choice.