considerable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "considerable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is large in amount, extent, or degree. Example: "The project required a considerable amount of time and resources to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: Ebola crisis – the Guardian briefing The rapidly dropping number of cases will make it a considerable challenge to trial vaccines against Ebola.

The Guardian

McIntyre said that during legal challenges against the tapes handover Boston-based judge William Young, who read all the relevant interviews, described the project as a "bona fide academic exercise of considerable intellectual merit".

The Guardian

The risks, though, are considerable – not least because if The X Factor flops, then Fox may well drop the show and concentrate its efforts on Idol.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Related: Edward Snowden says Australia's new data retention laws are 'dangerous' The Conservative manifesto had promised to strengthen the state's powers of surveillance, despite opposition to the already considerable powers revealed by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor now living in exile in Russia.

The Guardian

When the Serb beat the Spaniard 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in less than two and a half hours on a warm, still afternoon in front of an awe-struck audience on Court Philippe Chatrier, to advance to the semi-finals against Andy Murray on Friday, he not only tore up the record books, he left a considerable psychic bruise on the outgoing champion.

The Guardian - Sport

"This already pre-empts much of the management's rights, and moving away from that is a task which will take a considerable time and much patience".

The Guardian

While the NSW government has already approved the Shenhua project, the federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, referred the project to the IESC in the face of considerable political pressure.

The Guardian

Sinn Féin has taken considerable political flak in the Irish Republic for seeming to back welfare reforms including cuts to the civil service and public sector in Northern Ireland.

The Guardian

María, a well-dressed middle-aged lady who spoke freely once assured of anonymity, also described considerable nervousness at the "peaceful end of the business".

The Guardian

The transferable vote election system is the key, and gives the SDLP considerable cause for optimism that it can hold nationalism's pole position.

The Guardian

The Tory chief whip said: "If this exit poll is correct, that gives the prime minister considerable authority.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "considerable" to emphasize the magnitude or importance of something, making sure the context warrants a term stronger than 'some' or 'notable'.

Common error

Avoid using "considerable" in very casual conversations; opt for simpler words like "large" or "significant" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "considerable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate a significant degree, amount, or size. As seen in Ludwig, it often precedes nouns like "time", "effort", or "challenges" to emphasize their magnitude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "considerable" is a versatile adjective used to emphasize the magnitude or importance of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While "considerable" is suitable for neutral to professional settings, simpler alternatives may be preferable in casual conversations. By understanding its nuances and applying the best practices, writers can effectively leverage "considerable" to enhance their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantial

Indicates a large amount or degree, similar to considerable but with a slightly more formal tone.

significant

Implies importance and a noticeable effect, akin to considerable in impact.

appreciable

Suggests that something is easily noticed or large enough to be important, close to considerable.

marked

Highlights that something is clearly noticeable or distinct, similar to considerable in its visibility.

notable

Emphasizes that something is worthy of attention due to its importance or size, much like considerable.

sizeable

Refers to a relatively large size or amount, sharing the quantitative aspect of considerable.

major

Signifies something important or serious, reflecting the significant aspect of considerable.

extensive

Indicates a large scope or range, similar to considerable in terms of scale.

remarkable

Highlights something as worthy of attention, often due to being unusual or impressive, aligning with the impact implied by considerable.

ample

Suggests that there is more than enough of something, echoing the idea of a significant quantity as with considerable.

FAQs

How can I use "considerable" in a sentence?

You can use "considerable" to describe something of noteworthy size, amount, or importance. For example, "The project required a considerable amount of time" or "She faced considerable challenges during her research."

What are some alternatives to using "considerable"?

Alternatives to "considerable" include "substantial", "significant", and "notable". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "a considerable amount of"?

Yes, it is correct to say "a considerable amount of". This phrase is used to indicate a large or significant quantity of something. For example, "A considerable amount of effort was put into the project."

What's the difference between "considerable" and "noticeable"?

"Considerable" implies a significant degree or amount, while "noticeable" simply means something is easy to observe or detect. A "considerable" difference is both easy to see and important, whereas a "noticeable" difference might only be easily seen but not necessarily significant.