not so considerable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not so considerable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not as significant or large as one might think or expect. Example: "The impact of the new policy was not so considerable as the management had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An increase in the capacity for isolation of contacts also gives a noticeable although not so considerable effect (4327 infected cases).

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the North Pacific, however, conditions are not so uniform, particularly the considerable climatic differences between the eastern and western regions in the same latitude.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, both the injection and detection systems were not designed for this task, so considerable room is available for reducing the detection limit into the ag range with modern AMS systems – such as the one being commissioned at University of Ottawa.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

Not so Mr. Obama or, to a considerable extent, Mr. McCain.

The New York Times

The costs of doing so are not so obvious but they are considerable".

The Guardian

He believed that the Fed could gain considerable traction not so much by changing expectations as through the direct effect of nonstandard open-market operations.

The New York Times

The mean differences between adjusted SG utilities and HUI2 scores were considerable but not so large.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The powerful and not so powerful vendors in OpenStack all face considerable market pressures, which are exacerbated by AWS and its unquestionable innovation.

TechCrunch

The two cities were once not so far apart but now "the difference is considerable".

The Guardian

By Ms. Egan's lights, which are considerable indeed, this makes Charlotte not so very different from anyone else.

The New York Times - Books

In many ways, proverbs are not so different from short quotations that have gained a considerable currency of usage.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not so considerable" to downplay the importance or size of something in a measured and nuanced way. It suggests a degree of impact, but less than might be assumed.

Common error

Avoid using "not so considerable" when you mean to convey that something has virtually no impact at all. In such cases, alternatives like "negligible" or "insignificant" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not so considerable" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically used to qualify a noun by indicating that something is less significant or impactful than it might initially seem. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not so considerable" is a grammatically sound expression used to suggest that something is less significant or impactful than one might initially assume. As Ludwig indicates, it's considered correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is uncommon, its primary contexts are in science, news and media, and encyclopedias. When employing the phrase, be sure to maintain a neutral tone and ensure the context aligns with conveying a measured, rather than negligible, impact. For alternative phrasing to "not so considerable", consider not particularly significant or "not especially large". Avoid using "not so considerable" when something is almost zero or insignificant, as more direct terms like "negligible" would be more accurate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly significant

Replaces "considerable" with "particularly significant", softening the degree of impact.

not especially large

Substitutes "considerable" with "especially large", focusing on the size or extent of something.

not all that important

Replaces "considerable" with "all that important", shifting the focus to the level of importance.

not terribly significant

Uses "terribly significant" in place of "so considerable", emphasizing a lesser degree of importance.

not overly substantial

Replaces "considerable" with "overly substantial", highlighting the lack of material or real presence.

not quite so great

Uses "quite so great" instead of "so considerable", suggesting a slight diminution.

not as substantial as one might expect

Adds a qualifier about expectation, making the lack of significance more explicit.

less significant than it appears

Implies a discrepancy between appearance and reality, focusing on a reduced significance.

of limited consequence

Shifts the emphasis to the outcome or result, describing it as having limited impact.

modest rather than major

Contrasts "modest" with "major" to underscore the limited scale or scope.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "not so considerable" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "not particularly significant", "of limited consequence", or "less significant than it appears".

What's the difference between "not so considerable" and "inconsiderable"?

"Not so considerable" implies a limited but existing impact, whereas "inconsiderable" suggests a negligible or very small impact. "Inconsiderable" is closer in meaning to "insignificant".

When is it best to use "not so considerable" in writing?

Use "not so considerable" when you want to acknowledge that something has some effect or size, but that it is smaller or less important than might be expected. It's useful for nuanced descriptions.

Are there any situations where I should avoid using "not so considerable"?

Avoid using "not so considerable" if you need to emphasize that something is entirely without impact or is extremely large. In the first case, use "negligible" or "insignificant", and in the second use "enormous" or "substantial".