by a substantial portion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by a substantial portion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a significant part or amount of something is involved or affected. Example: "The project was delayed by a substantial portion of the budget being reallocated to other departments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Remember, Quinn is disliked by a substantial portion of the Democratic primary electorate.

The Guardian - Opinion

One recurring feature of the Trump Presidency has been an acute collective sensation, shared by a substantial portion of the electorate, of helpless witness.

The New Yorker

The refinanced debt is secured by a "substantial portion" of Dynegy's assets, excluding its Illinois utility, and requires no payments until February 2005.

The New York Times

And he could present taking the Fifth now as a form of protest against an illegitimate and unfair investigation — a view already shared by a substantial portion of Republicans across the country.

The New Yorker

Rhapsody's iTunes app is used by a substantial portion of its 750,000 subscribers, but they also listen across other devices.

TechCrunch

In particular, six categories of ways of understanding emerged from the data as having been shared by a substantial portion of the students in this study: (1) covariation, (2) invoking time, (3) other symbols as constants, (4) other symbols as implicit functions, (5) implicit differentiation, and (6) output values as amounts instead of rates of change.

The Journal of Mathematical Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

PAGE A12 RISING ACIDITY THREATENS OCEANS The oceans have long buffered the effects of climate change by absorbing a substantial portion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

The New York Times

The oceans have long buffered the effects of climate change by absorbing a substantial portion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

The New York Times - Science

Building at relatively high density helps LeylandAlliance to offset the profit it forgoes by reserving a substantial portion of land for public amenities, like a waterfront park, running paths and several restored ponds.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 1980, Reagan won the election by attracting a substantial portion of Democrats with three simple ideas.

Forbes

In this work, we are exploring the possibility for resolving this problem by converting a substantial portion of thermal energy of ions into electricity in front of the divertor plates.

Fusion Engineering and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by a substantial portion", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being substantially affected. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "by a substantial portion" in very simple sentences where a more direct word like "significantly" or "largely" would be more effective. For example, instead of "Profits increased by a substantial portion", consider "Profits increased significantly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a substantial portion" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating the extent or degree to which something is affected. Ludwig shows this phrase is frequently employed across varied contexts to denote a significant impact or change.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

6.67%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

3.33%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by a substantial portion" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate a significant impact or degree of change. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently across diverse sources, including news media and scientific publications. While alternatives like "significantly" or "largely" may offer conciseness, this phrase provides a quantifiable emphasis that can be valuable in many contexts. When employing "by a substantial portion", make sure to clearly define what it is modifying to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. It is a tool for emphasis, not obfuscation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in large part

Focuses on a large part or aspect of something.

to a considerable extent

Replaces "portion" with "extent", emphasizing degree rather than quantity.

to a great extent

Similar to "to a considerable extent", but emphasizes the magnitude of the impact.

in significant measure

Uses "measure" to highlight impact or effect rather than an amount.

to a significant degree

Emphasizes the level or intensity of the impact.

to a major degree

Suggests the primary or most significant impact.

to a marked extent

Indicates the impact is clearly noticeable or distinct.

to a notable degree

Focuses on the degree to which something is affected.

considerably

A concise adverb indicating a noticeable impact or change.

largely

A single-word adverb replacing the entire phrase, indicating the main impact.

FAQs

How can I use "by a substantial portion" in a sentence?

Use "by a substantial portion" to indicate that a significant amount or part of something is affected or involved, for example: "The budget was reduced "by a substantial portion" due to the economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "by a substantial portion"?

You can use alternatives like "to a considerable extent", "in large part", or "largely" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "by a substantial portion" or "significantly"?

Both "by a substantial portion" and "significantly" are correct, but "significantly" is often more concise. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis and formality. Using "by a substantial portion" can sometimes add a sense of quantifiable impact.

What's the difference between "by a substantial portion" and "by a large part"?

"By a substantial portion" and "by a large part" are very similar in meaning, both indicating a significant amount. "Substantial" often implies a greater degree or impact compared to "large".