not very substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that lacks significance, importance, or weight. Example: "The evidence presented in the report is not very substantial, making it difficult to draw any firm conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Droll and interesting; just not very substantial.

The New York Times

Not very substantial excuses, I admit.

The Guardian - Opinion

That, too, seems as if it might have been inaccurate -- unless the network itself was not very substantial.

The New York Times

"The opportunities to communicate to customers are not very substantial," said David Adelman, an analyst at Morgan Stanley.

The New York Times

The rest, who receive a not very substantial fee for the periodic intrusion on their lives, have stuck with it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In addition, there are scattered hints in various early authors and in some not very substantial remains of 4th-century Pythagorean literature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Dorothea has memories, of course, but they aren't very substantial; one of Brookner's born spinsters, she claims to have been unaffected by 15 years of marriage.

The New York Times - Books

The direction isn't particularly inventive, the script isn't very substantial, and even the excellent cast, headed by Jeanne Moreau and Maurice Ronet, isn't given much to do.

The New Yorker

In other words, browser based feed reading isn't very substantial and it isn't very diverse.

TechCrunch

The fact sheet and Chairman Pai's commentary also get a few hits in regarding the recent decision to roll back the 2015 net neutrality rules, but they aren't very substantial.

TechCrunch

Thereafter they frequently reappear, laboriously constructing not-very-substantial scenery; there is one scene where they swoop in with four skeletal storefront doors, line them across the apron, and then twirl them upstage to form downtown.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research findings, use "not very substantial" to accurately portray the limited impact or significance of the results. This prevents overstating conclusions based on weak evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "not very substantial" as an overly dismissive term for efforts or achievements that, while small, still hold some value or potential. Acknowledge incremental progress even when it's not groundbreaking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very substantial" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it lacks a significant degree of substance, importance, or impact. Ludwig examples show its application in diverse contexts, supporting its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not very substantial" is a grammatically sound and neutrally toned adjective phrase used to express a lack of significance or weight. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it is used less frequently than alternatives like "not particularly significant" or "somewhat insignificant". As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, it appears more often in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, but writers should be mindful of overusing it in situations needing more positive or constructive language. Its effective use lies in providing an accurate, albeit somewhat understated, assessment of something's limited importance or impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly significant

Replaces "very substantial" with "particularly significant", emphasizing a lack of importance.

somewhat insignificant

Uses "insignificant" to convey a lack of importance, adding "somewhat" for nuance.

relatively unimportant

Substitutes "substantial" with "important", using "relatively" to indicate a lower degree of importance.

not especially meaningful

Replaces "substantial" with "meaningful", highlighting a lack of deeper significance.

a bit trivial

Uses the adjective "trivial" to suggest something is of little value or importance, making the statement shorter and more direct.

hardly considerable

Employs "hardly" to diminish the extent of considerability or importance.

scarcely significant

Uses "scarcely" to minimize the degree of significance.

not of great consequence

Replaces "substantial" with "of great consequence", underscoring the limited impact or effect.

rather negligible

Utilizes "negligible" to denote something so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering, replacing the original term for brevity.

not really weighty

Replaces the formal "substantial" with "weighty", adding "not really" to express the lack of impact.

FAQs

How can I use "not very substantial" in a sentence?

You can use "not very substantial" to describe something lacking in importance or significance, such as "The evidence presented was "not very substantial", so the claim was dismissed".

What can I say instead of "not very substantial"?

Alternatives to "not very substantial" include "not particularly significant", "relatively unimportant", or "somewhat insignificant", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "not very substantial"?

Yes, "not very substantial" is a correct and commonly used phrase in English. It indicates that something is lacking in substance or importance.

What's the difference between "not very substantial" and "insignificant"?

"Not very substantial" implies a lesser degree of impact or weight, while "insignificant" suggests something is almost entirely without importance. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.