for a substantial time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a substantial time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you need to describe something that has gone on for a period of time that is longer than expected or desired. For example, "The pandemic has been disrupting daily life for a substantial time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

On them, she said that Mr. Diallo remained standing for a substantial time after the shooting began; on Wednesday she testified in court that he had fallen to the ground immediately and the officers continued firing.

The New York Times

You can't kill power for a substantial time where you have a refrigeration facility," Flewell explained.

TechCrunch

These, ideally, must be inexpensive, less polluting than current fuels and available for a substantial time.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

First, the vacuum vessel has to withstand the static load of a deflagration, which pressurizes the vessel for a substantial time period.

Fusion Engineering and Design

The first time I was there for seven months and I stayed clean for a substantial time afterwards.

Vice

The entire ward D was put in isolation for a substantial time due to a Norovirus epidemic.

Clinical interventions in aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This is probably because of the cytostatic nature of lycopene that requires a substantial time for the alterations of mRNA or protein to exhibit the ultimate cellular death.

Cancer Science

In addition to longer administration time, ZA infusion was also associated with a substantial time burden for healthcare providers.

Cancer Management and Research

For a dial-up, this is a substantial time commitment.

WikiHow

To sustain a sub-maximal contraction for a substantial amount time, the recruitment of new motor units is necessary.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It is expected that adoption of the extended version of MEDIC will avoid the need to modify and update annotations, providing for a substantial curatorial time savings.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for a substantial time", ensure the context makes it clear what event or situation the time period is related to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "for a substantial time" without providing any specific context or comparison. Instead, consider adding a reference point or comparing it to a more familiar time frame to give the reader a better sense of the duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a substantial time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the duration of an action or state. As supported by Ludwig AI, it provides information about how long something lasted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a substantial time" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that adds detail of duration to a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not extremely common, it finds use across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. It is crucial to provide context when using this phrase to avoid vagueness. Remember that it can be replaced by similar phrases such as "for a considerable period" or "for an extended time" to adjust the tone or emphasis, as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a considerable duration

Emphasizes the length of the period; uses 'considerable' instead of 'substantial'.

for a significant period

Highlights the importance or impact of the period; uses 'significant' instead of 'substantial'.

for an extended time

Focuses on the time being longer than usual; uses 'extended' instead of 'substantial'.

for a prolonged period

Implies the period was drawn out, potentially longer than desired; uses 'prolonged' instead of 'substantial'.

for a lengthy duration

Directly emphasizes the duration being long; uses 'lengthy' instead of 'substantial'.

for a good while

More informal way to describe a notable period of time; replaces 'substantial' with 'good while'.

for quite some time

Emphasizes that the time has been noticeable or significant; uses 'quite some time' instead of 'substantial time'.

for a long stretch

Implies a continuous period of time without interruption; replaces 'substantial time' with 'long stretch'.

over an appreciable time

Highlights that the time is noticeable and worthy of consideration; uses 'appreciable' instead of 'substantial'.

for a protracted period

Suggests the period was longer than convenient or desirable; uses 'protracted' instead of 'substantial'.

FAQs

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

Use "for a substantial time" to indicate that something has lasted longer than expected or is significant in duration. For example, "The project was delayed "for a substantial time" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "for a substantial time"?

You can use alternatives like "for a considerable period", "for a significant duration", or "for an extended time" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "for a substantial time" and "for a short time"?

"For a substantial time" indicates a long duration, whereas "for a short time" indicates a brief duration. They are antonyms and used to describe opposite lengths of time.

Is it better to say "for a substantial time" or "for a substantial period of time"?

Both "for a substantial time" and "for a substantial period of time" are correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the desired level of formality, with the latter being slightly more formal.