fluctuate substantially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fluctuate substantially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing significant variations or changes in a particular quantity or situation over time. Example: "The stock prices tend to fluctuate substantially during periods of economic uncertainty."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

In such an environment, the amount of processing required to complete a task may fluctuate substantially.

Future Generation Computer Systems

Income growth rates fluctuate substantially, and more or less randomly, from month to month.

The New York Times

In such an environment, the execution time of any given task may fluctuate substantially due to factors such as the content of data to be processed.

Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing

Often, such systems are expected to function in a physical environment replete with uncertainty, which causes the amount of processing required to fluctuate substantially over time.

Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing

But rather than locking up these low rates, a substantial number of borrowers continue to opt for adjustable-rate loans, whose rates, while initially lower than those on fixed-rate loans for a specified period, can fluctuate substantially over time.

The New York Times

The AQI values fluctuate substantially depending on various situations.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The signal-to-noise ratio on the web has fluctuated substantially as new technology to organize information has battled with new technology to create and distribute information.

TechCrunch

Furthermore, the spatial features map (IC2 in Fig. 5b) now displays a much larger density of BFO domains whose response fluctuates substantially and in a transient fashion.

Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging

In an average year the lake covers an area of around 1700 square miles, but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its shallowness.

Wikipedia

The prevalence and density of infected snails fluctuated substantially across the study villages and over the study period.

Plosone

NRTI resistance fluctuated substantially, rising from 6% in 2002 2003 to 16% in 2006, then decreasing to 11% in 2009 (Fig. 1B).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data or statistics, use "fluctuate substantially" to clearly indicate that the variations are significant and not minor. For example, "The company's stock price can "fluctuate substantially" based on market news".

Common error

Avoid using "fluctuate substantially" when the variations are only slight or insignificant. Overstating the degree of change can mislead your audience. Instead, consider using phrases like "vary slightly" or "change marginally" for minor shifts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fluctuate substantially" functions as a verb phrase used to describe a situation where something changes irregularly and significantly over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fluctuate substantially" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe significant and irregular changes. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to inform about notable variations, making it suitable for neutral to formal contexts such as science and news reporting. While examples show its usage is rare, understanding its meaning and alternatives like "vary considerably" or "change significantly" can improve writing accuracy. Remember to use this phrase when variations are truly significant, avoiding its misuse for minor changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vary considerably

Replaces "fluctuate" with "vary" and "substantially" with "considerably", both indicating a large degree of change.

change significantly

Substitutes "fluctuate" with "change" and "substantially" with "significantly", focusing on the act of changing in a notable way.

shift markedly

Uses "shift" instead of "fluctuate" and "markedly" in place of "substantially", emphasizing a noticeable change in position or state.

differ greatly

Replaces "fluctuate" with "differ" and "substantially" with "greatly", suggesting a large degree of dissimilarity over time.

oscillate widely

Replaces "fluctuate" with "oscillate" focusing on regular back-and-forth movement. Uses "widely" to emphasize the range of oscillation.

rise and fall dramatically

Emphasizes the up-and-down motion with "rise and fall", and uses "dramatically" for a substantial change.

swing violently

Replaces fluctuate with "swing" to describe a forceful, unstable movement and substantially with "violently" for emphasis.

undergo major variations

Replaces "fluctuate" with a more formal "undergo major variations", highlighting significant changes.

experience considerable swings

Uses "experience considerable swings" to indicate significant and irregular changes or variations.

demonstrate large fluctuations

Turns the verb into a noun phrase, "large fluctuations", and uses "demonstrate" to indicate that these fluctuations are evident.

FAQs

How can I use "fluctuate substantially" in a sentence?

Use "fluctuate substantially" to describe something that changes significantly and irregularly. For example, "The demand for ice cream tends to "fluctuate substantially" during the summer months".

What are some alternatives to "fluctuate substantially"?

Alternatives include "vary considerably", "change significantly", or "shift markedly", each emphasizing a notable degree of change.

Is it correct to say "fluctuate substantially"?

Yes, "fluctuate substantially" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe significant and irregular changes.

What is the difference between "fluctuate substantially" and "fluctuate slightly"?

"Fluctuate substantially" indicates significant variations, while "fluctuate slightly" implies minor changes. The choice depends on the magnitude of the fluctuations you are describing.