make it substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make it substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the importance or significance of something, often in a context where you are asking for more depth or detail. Example: "In order to convince the board, we need to make it substantial by including more data and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The curried bread crumbs make it substantial enough on its own as a main course, though serving it with a couple of fried eggs on top, or next to your grilled protein of choice (chicken, steak, fish), makes an even heartier dinner.

The New York Times - Food

Without fail, always read something, and make it substantial.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A bowl of saffron rice will make it more substantial.

The New York Times

To make it more substantial, fry some cubed aubergines in the pan before you add the lamb.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The yogurt provides the protein to make it feel substantial, while the fruit makes it sweet, and plenty of ice keeps it cold.

The New York Times - Food

Serve with white beans or puy lentils to make it more substantial: a proper main course, rather than a light lunch or hearty starter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Add other salad vegetables to make it a substantial meal.

WikiHow

Boots were an important part of keeping dry and safe on the ship's rigging, so make it a substantial boot.

WikiHow

There are certainly other positive aspects to the TPP that will make it attractive to substantial numbers of voters and members of Congress.

Los Angeles Times

That failure would make it harder to achieve substantial outcomes from the policy, the group of MPs said.

The Guardian

Michael Tilson Thomas conducted the concert, making it more substantial and surprising than it might have been.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make it substantial" when you want to highlight that something needs to be significant, weighty, or have a real impact. It's useful when suggesting improvements to make something more meaningful.

Common error

While appropriate in many situations, "make it substantial" can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Opt for more natural language like "add more to it" or "make it better" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it substantial" functions as a directive or suggestion to enhance the importance, impact, or value of something. It implies a need for improvement or reinforcement to achieve a more significant outcome. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make it substantial" is grammatically correct and serves as a directive to enhance the importance, impact, or value of something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and is considered correct. While relatively rare, its usage is consistent across contexts such as News & Media, Wiki, and Science. It is a call to add weight or significance, encouraging action towards creating a more compelling or impactful result. When considering related phrases, "make it significant" and "make it meaningful" offer similar shades of meaning. While adaptable to various situations, it's crucial to be mindful of the register and avoid overusing it in highly informal contexts, opting for more natural phrasing when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it significant

Focuses on the importance and notability of the subject.

make it meaningful

Emphasizes the value and relevance of the subject.

give it substance

Highlights the act of providing a tangible or concrete quality.

add weight to it

Implies adding importance or influence.

make it impactful

Stresses the potential effect or influence of the subject.

make it more considerable

Emphasizes the subject's importance or size.

beef it up

An informal way to say 'make it stronger or more effective'.

make it more robust

Highlights the strength and resilience of the subject.

make it denser

Focuses on increasing the complexity or depth of the subject.

fortify it

Implies strengthening or reinforcing the subject to add value.

FAQs

How can I use "make it substantial" in a sentence?

You can use "make it substantial" when you want to emphasize the need for something to be more significant or have more weight. For example, "To convince the investors, we need to "make it substantial" by including detailed financial projections".

What are some alternatives to "make it substantial"?

Some alternatives include "make it significant", "make it meaningful", or "give it substance". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "make it substantial" formal or informal?

"Make it substantial" leans towards the formal side. In casual contexts, consider using more relaxed alternatives like "beef it up".

What does it mean to "make something substantial"?

To "make something substantial" means to add weight, importance, or significance to it. It implies that the thing in question needs to be more considerable or have a greater impact.