of a substantial time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of a substantial time" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to a significant duration or period, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "The project was delayed for a substantial time, causing frustration among the team."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The "real fan" can only prove authenticity through purchasing tickets and team apparel and otherwise keeping up with the team – something that often requires expensive subscriptions to cable packages or online streaming services on top of a substantial time investment.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Such spatial distance may lead to a substantial time displacement of the co-registration.

Brain

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

As a result, investments of substantial time and money have not lead to important approvals for DES in complex atherosclerotic disease.

Plosone

There is a long, highly supported, branch at the base of the clade uniting the other streptophyte algae and embryophytes, likely indicating the elapse of a substantial amount of time.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and chief executive of the foundation, said that its board decided to resubmit the commercial to NBC as part of a substantial purchase of commercial time during the network's coverage of the Olympics.

The New York Times

This is an important issue from a practical point of view, since a slow speed of convergence would imply the persistence of disagreement for a substantial amount of time.

Complex & Intelligent Systems

In a short period of time a substantial number of patients were included, which demonstrates the feasibility of this novel technique.

Critical Care

Chronic community violence is widespread among settings or social groups; its consequences impact significant portions of the community over a substantial period of time (Lorion 1998).

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

In order for CES to be readily available, different methods of cryopreserving them for a substantial period of time without compromising their biological activities have been developed.

BioMed Research International

However, it does not appear to reach the preduplication levels of evolution even after a substantial period of time (d s > 0.6).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider more common alternatives like "for a considerable period" or "over a significant duration" to improve readability and avoid potential awkwardness.

Common error

Avoid using "of a substantial time" in very informal contexts; it may sound overly formal or unnatural. Opt for simpler phrases like "for a long time" in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of a substantial time" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating the duration or extent of an action or state. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically acceptable but is not as commonly used as its alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of a substantial time" is a grammatically acceptable but relatively uncommon way to indicate a significant duration. Ludwig suggests that while correct, it may sound awkward, and more common alternatives such as "for a considerable period" or "over a significant duration" might be preferred. Usage is seen across news, science, and business. It is generally suitable for neutral to formal contexts, but simpler phrases are better suited for casual conversation. Therefore, consider audience and purpose to make a proper choice in wording and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a considerable period

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the length of time is noteworthy.

over a significant duration

Substitutes "substantial" with "significant" and "time" with "duration", altering the phrasing while retaining the meaning.

during an extended timeframe

Uses "extended timeframe" instead of "substantial time", focusing on the prolonged nature.

for a lengthy interval

Replaces "substantial time" with "lengthy interval", highlighting the long duration.

across a prolonged period

Emphasizes the continuation of something across time using "prolonged period".

through a sizable duration

Replaces "substantial" with "sizable", indicating a considerable amount of time.

for a good while

Offers a more informal alternative, suggesting a notable duration.

over an appreciable amount of time

Replaces "substantial" with "appreciable", highlighting the noticeable length of time.

during a protracted spell

Uses "protracted spell" instead of "substantial time", emphasizing the drawn-out nature.

for much time

Offers a shorter, simpler alternative, focusing on the quantity of time.

FAQs

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

You can use "of a substantial time" to indicate that something lasts or requires a significant duration. For example: "The project was delayed "for a substantial time", causing frustration among the team."

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

Alternatives include "for a considerable period", "over a significant duration", or "during an extended timeframe". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "of a substantial time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "of a substantial time" is grammatically correct, but it is less common than other similar phrases. It might sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers. Using alternatives like "for a significant period" might be better.

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

"Of a substantial time" is less common and can sound more formal or awkward. "For a substantial time" is more common and generally preferred. For example, "They lived there "for a substantial time"" sounds more natural than "They lived there of a substantial time."