for a substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a significant amount or degree of something, often in contexts involving time, money, or effort. Example: "The project requires a budget for a substantial investment in new technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That makes for a substantial imprint.

The New Yorker

Prosecutors had asked for a "substantial" sentence.

The New York Times

Searching for a substantial New York book list?

The New Yorker

It makes for a substantial entree.

The New York Times - Food

Smoking was blamed for a substantial number, 28.

The New York Times

It even has money for a substantial reserve fund.

The New York Times

These changes account for a substantial increase in test scores.

The Economist

The police said it appeared she had been dead "for a substantial period".

The New York Times

Nepal relies heavily on India for a substantial proportion of its imports.

The Guardian

We are dependent on government-controlled companies for a substantial portion of our needs..

The Guardian - Business

He called for a "substantial increase" in schools spending, but did not say how much.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for a substantial" to emphasize the significant size, amount, or impact of something. This phrasing adds weight and importance to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "for a substantial" when referring to small or trivial amounts. The term implies a significant quantity or impact, and misusing it can weaken your message and make it sound exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a substantial" functions as a prepositional modifier, adding detail to a noun or noun phrase by describing a considerable quantity, degree, or extent. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is widely used across many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for a substantial" is a versatile and frequently used expression that highlights the considerable amount, degree, or impact of something. Ludwig AI indicates that its grammatical structure is correct, and it finds common usage across various authoritative sources, particularly in news, science, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "for a considerable" or "for a significant" can be used, it's important to ensure that the use of "for a substantial" appropriately reflects a meaningful quantity, avoiding its misuse for trivial amounts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a considerable

Replaces 'substantial' with 'considerable', implying a noticeable or significant amount.

for a significant

Uses 'significant' instead of 'substantial', indicating importance or consequence.

for a sizable

Substitutes 'substantial' with 'sizable', suggesting a large size or amount.

for a large

Replaces 'substantial' with 'large', indicating a great amount or size.

to a great extent

Shifts the phrasing to emphasize the degree or scope of something.

to a considerable degree

Uses 'considerable degree' to highlight the significant level or intensity.

for a marked

Employs 'marked' instead of 'substantial', suggesting something easily noticeable.

for a noticeable

Replaces 'substantial' with 'noticeable', implying something easily observed or detected.

for a tangible

Uses 'tangible' to indicate something real and perceptible.

for a material

Replaces 'substantial' with 'material', emphasizing the concrete or significant nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "for a substantial" in a sentence?

Use "for a substantial" when you want to describe something that is considerable in amount, size, or importance. For example, "The company accounted "for a substantial proportion" of the market share."

What can I say instead of "for a substantial"?

You can use alternatives like "for a considerable", "for a significant", or "to a great extent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "for a substantial amount" or "for a substantial number"?

"For a substantial amount" is typically used with uncountable nouns (e.g., time, money), while "for a substantial number" is used with countable nouns (e.g., people, items). Choose the phrasing that aligns with the noun you're modifying.

What's the difference between "for a substantial" and "for a tangible"?

"For a substantial" implies a significant quantity or degree, while "for a tangible" refers to something that is real and can be perceived by the senses. They are not interchangeable; the choice depends on whether you want to emphasize quantity or tangibility.