devote a substantial amount of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devote a substantial amount of time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the commitment of time to a particular task, project, or activity. Example: "To master a new language, one must devote a substantial amount of time to practice and study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, they occasionally feed in trees Australian ravens forage eucalypt foliage for Christmas beetles (Anoplognathus), and devote a substantial amount of time to look for nests and eggs to eat.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

On the set of "Downton Abbey," ladies maids duties are performed by the costume designer Susannah Buxton's staff, which devotes a substantial amount of time to steaming, pressing and sponging her creations.

The New York Times

In analyzing Saturday night's Democratic debate, which devoted a substantial amount of time to foreign policy, Kristol criticized the candidates for not proposing to put more American troops on the ground in Syria to fight the terrorist group, despite the fact that many Americans are tired of war and wary of sending more troops to the region. .

Huffington Post

I obviously devote a substantial amount of my time and energy to critiquing the actions of the U.S. Government, but the robust free speech protection guaranteed by the First Amendment and largely protected by American courts continues to be one of the best features of American political culture.

Huffington Post

He wanted the building, which would be named for him, to be called a "museum," and to devote a substantial amount of space to his collection.

The New Yorker

For the past week, I've devoted a substantial amount of my time to issues surrounding the manual vote recounts.

The New York Times

Senator Schumer added that his bill would give industry a substantial amount of time to switch to other plastics.

The New York Times

As the week rolled out we devoted a substantial amount of space to analyzing the varying versions, the inconsistencies".

The New York Times

An heir to the Jones & Laughlin steel fortune, Phillips (1886-1966) devoted a substantial amount of his inheritance to creating the collection, Mr. Gates said.

The New York Times - Arts

Although St . Marys inmates received an education, a substantial amount of time was devoted to work, particularly once the boys turned 12. Ruth became a shirtmaker, and was also proficient as a carpenter.

Wikipedia

As it has become clear that activation of the DDR is a very effective approach to killing tumours, a substantial amount of time, money and effort has been devoted to developing more specific ways of activating the DDR [ 4].

Aging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the importance of allocating time to a specific task, use "devote a substantial amount of time" to convey a significant commitment. It's suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "devote a substantial amount of time" in overly casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "spend a lot of time" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devote a substantial amount of time" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of allocating a significant portion of one's time to a specific task or activity. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is usable in written English. Examples show it describes commitment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

24%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devote a substantial amount of time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies a significant commitment of time to a particular activity. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It finds common usage in news, science, and wiki articles, demonstrating its versatility. While generally neutral to professional, it should be used cautiously in overly casual contexts. Alternatives like "dedicate considerable time" or "invest a significant amount of time" can be considered for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dedicate considerable time

Replaces "devote a substantial amount of time" with "dedicate considerable time", maintaining a similar level of formality and emphasis on time commitment.

Commit a large amount of time

Uses "commit" instead of "devote", highlighting a strong sense of dedication to the activity.

Invest a significant amount of time

Substitutes "devote" with "invest", framing time as a resource being invested in something. The meaning is very similar.

Dedicated a significant period

Similar in meaning, but replaces "amount" with "period", focusing on the duration of time dedicated.

Allocate considerable time

Replaces "devote" with "allocate", suggesting a more formal and planned distribution of time.

Spend a good deal of time

Employs a more informal tone compared to "devote a substantial amount of time", while still conveying that a significant portion of time is used.

Expend a large amount of time

Conveys the idea of using up time, emphasizing the resources consumed.

Give significant time

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize giving time, slightly altering the nuance but retaining the core concept.

Put a lot of time into

Offers a more casual and colloquial way to express significant time investment.

Apply oneself extensively

Focuses on the effort and application of oneself rather than the specific amount of time spent, but still implies a significant commitment.

FAQs

What does "devote a substantial amount of time" mean?

The phrase "devote a substantial amount of time" means to dedicate a significant portion of time to a specific activity or purpose, implying a serious commitment.

How can I use "devote a substantial amount of time" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "To become proficient in playing the piano, you must devote a substantial amount of time to practicing scales and chords."

What are some alternatives to "devote a substantial amount of time"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicate considerable time", "invest a significant amount of time", or "spend a good deal of time" depending on the context.

Is "devote a substantial amount of time" formal or informal?

The phrase leans towards the formal side but is appropriate in many contexts. For more casual settings, consider alternatives such as "put a lot of time into".