but not substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but not substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is present or exists, but it lacks significant importance or size. Example: "The changes made to the project were helpful, but not substantial enough to impact the overall outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"It'll make a little marginal impact in the First District, but not substantial" statewide.

The New York Times

Given the fact we have no less than 8X coverage of the genome, this correction was helpful, but not substantial.

Nature

The music is likewise chilly and stark but not substantial enough to clinch the slow splendour at which it aims.

The Guardian - Music

He also said he would be taking a "significant but not substantial pay cut" to move to Fox News.

The New York Times

At the same time, he counseled patience for a strategy that depends on proxy forces, air power and commandos but not substantial numbers of American ground troops.

The New York Times

In contrast, all MYC inhibitors reported so far caused mainly cell growth arrest but not substantial cell death even when delivered at very high concentrations (10 65 µM) and for long treatment periods (>11 days) [24,25,26, 48, 49].

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The visual difference in the number of eggs laid by 20 day old females was substantial but not significant.

Aging

The tabulated values are a subset of those presented graphically in Figures 2 and 4. Differences between observed (S ^ t ) and predicted (S ¯ t ) survival probabilities are apparent, but are not substantial.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

"There probably is an undercount, but it's not substantial," she added.

The Washington Post

A few minor changes in layout and soldering to accommodate the larger A5 die and such are also to be found, but they're not substantial.

TechCrunch

Such information is always inaccurate to some extent, but inaccuracy was not substantial to mask the associations with alcohol and coffee consumption.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but not substantial", ensure the contrast is clear. The first part of the sentence should set up an expectation of something significant, which is then qualified by the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "but not substantial" when something is truly insignificant or nonexistent. The phrase implies there is at least a minor effect, even if it's not large.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not substantial" functions as a qualifier or a modifier to a preceding statement. It indicates a contrast where something might be expected to have a significant impact, but its effect is actually limited. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and suitable for use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not substantial" serves to qualify or temper a statement, indicating that something has limited impact or size. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While not exceedingly common, it finds application in news, scientific, and academic writing. Related phrases include "though not considerable" and "yet not significant", providing alternative ways to express this nuanced meaning. When using "but not substantial", ensure it is applied accurately to avoid overstating insignificance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though not considerable

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", changing the vocabulary but retaining the core meaning of limited impact.

yet not significant

Substitutes "but" with "yet" and "substantial" with "significant", offering a more formal tone while preserving the meaning.

albeit not momentous

Replaces "but" with "albeit" and "substantial" with "momentous", which emphasizes the lack of importance.

however not major

Replaces "but" with "however" and "substantial" with "major", resulting in more informal expression.

still not particularly large

Uses "still" instead of "but" and replaces "substantial" with a more descriptive phrase about size.

while not especially meaningful

Employs "while" instead of "but" and shifts the focus to the lack of meaningfulness, not just size or impact.

though it's not all that important

This alternative is a more conversational substitute, replacing "substantial" with "all that important".

even if not extremely impactful

This alternative adds the conditionality of "even if" and focuses on the lack of impact rather than size or scale.

but it doesn't really matter that much

This option is a colloquial paraphrase, highlighting the lack of significance in a more casual way.

while lacking in real magnitude

This alternative is more formal and focuses on "magnitude" as the aspect that is lacking.

FAQs

How can I use "but not substantial" in a sentence?

Use "but not substantial" to indicate that something has a limited effect or impact. For example, "The change was noticeable, "but not substantial", in the overall results."

What can I say instead of "but not substantial"?

You can use alternatives like "though not considerable", "yet not significant", or "albeit not momentous" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "but not significant" or "but not substantial"?

Both "but not significant" and "but not substantial" are grammatically correct. "Substantial" often implies a larger quantity or size, while "significant" implies importance or consequence. The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What is the difference between "but not significant" and "but not substantial"?

"Substantial" relates more to size, amount, or degree, while "significant" refers to importance or consequence. For example, a change might be noticeable (substantial) but not significant enough to alter a decision.