clear and substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear and substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is both easily understood and significant or meaningful. Example: "The report provided clear and substantial evidence to support the proposed changes in policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Schneiderman's case, said Barclays, contains "clear and substantial factual errors".

The Guardian - Business

We have a fairly clear, and substantial, output gap on one side of the ledger.

The Economist

The bank added: "The complaint is based on clear and substantial factual errors.

The Guardian - Business

[n12] The State's concern that rates be fair and efficient represents a clear and substantial governmental interest.

Cornell University

There were clear and substantial benefits – premium sport and movies, hundreds more channels, interactivity and on-demand viewing.

The Guardian

Nevertheless, the evidence we have found is clear and substantial, and can now be seen in our report," hesaid.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

"We have to lay out a clear vision and substantial ideas about where we want to go".

The New York Times

The ones I've watched are exhilarating they bring to life a clear, coherent, and substantial worldview with a bracing and provocative sense of style and it's worth getting at the nature of Dwan's art while looking also at the underlying implications of seeing "art" in the bosom of Hollywood's blatantly mercantile productions.

The New Yorker

Jan Witold Baran, a leading Republican election lawyer, told the Supreme Court today that any limits on how much direct help political parties could give candidates for federal office amounted to a "clear, direct and substantial infringement" of the parties' right of free speech.

The New York Times

The ones I've watched are exhilarating — they bring to life a clear, coherent, and substantial worldview with a bracing and provocative sense of style — and it's worth getting at the nature of Dwan's art while looking also at the underlying implications of seeing "art" in the bosom of Hollywood's blatantly mercantile productions.

The New Yorker

Welsh ministers warned the legislation would need to clear "high and substantial hurdles" to become law.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clear and substantial" in formal writing, ensure that both adjectives accurately reflect the subject. For example, use the phrase when evidence is not only easily understood but also significant in its implications.

Common error

While "clear and substantial" isn't grammatically incorrect in informal settings, it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler language like "obvious and important" or "easy to see and significant" to better suit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear and substantial" functions primarily as a compound adjective. It modifies nouns by describing them as both easily understood and of significant importance. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it's used to emphasize the quality and impact of whatever it modifies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clear and substantial" is a frequently used phrase to describe something that is both easily understood and significantly important. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears most often in news, scientific, and academic contexts, lending a level of formality and precision. To avoid overuse in informal settings, consider alternatives like "obvious and important". Remember, the best practice is to ensure both adjectives accurately reflect the subject, enhancing your writing with precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unequivocal and significant

Replaces "clear" with "unequivocal", emphasizing the lack of ambiguity, and "substantial" with "significant", highlighting importance.

distinct and considerable

Substitutes "clear" with "distinct" for emphasis on differentiation and "substantial" with "considerable" to denote a noteworthy amount.

evident and meaningful

Uses "evident" instead of "clear" to highlight the ease of perception, and "meaningful" in place of "substantial" to stress relevance.

obvious and appreciable

Replaces "clear" with "obvious" to emphasize the ease of understanding, and "substantial" with "appreciable" to highlight a noticeable quantity.

manifest and weighty

Substitutes "clear" with "manifest" indicating something easily perceived, and "substantial" with "weighty" for an emphasis on importance and influence.

palpable and significant

Uses "palpable" instead of "clear" to emphasize the tangibility of the concept, and retains "significant" to denote importance.

unmistakable and marked

Replaces "clear" with "unmistakable" for emphasis on lack of ambiguity, and "substantial" with "marked" to indicate a noticeable effect.

transparent and considerable

Substitutes "clear" with "transparent" implying easy visibility, and maintains "considerable" to denote a noteworthy quantity.

patent and material

Replaces "clear" with "patent" to indicate something obvious and "substantial" with "material" to emphasize relevance or importance.

straightforward and significant

Uses "straightforward" instead of "clear" to highlight simplicity, and "significant" in place of "substantial" to stress relevance.

FAQs

How can I use "clear and substantial" in a sentence?

The phrase "clear and substantial" is used to describe something that is both easily understood and of significant importance. For example, "The report provided "clear and substantial" evidence to support the proposed changes."

What are some alternatives to "clear and substantial"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unequivocal and significant", "distinct and considerable", or "evident and meaningful" as alternatives to "clear and substantial".

Is it appropriate to use "clear and substantial" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "clear and substantial" may sound overly formal in informal contexts. Consider using simpler alternatives that better match the tone.

What makes something "clear and substantial"?

For something to be described as "clear and substantial", it needs to be easily understandable and possess significant weight or importance. Both aspects must be present for the phrase to be accurately applied.