prove substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prove substantial" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of demonstrating something significant or considerable, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The evidence presented in court did not prove substantial enough to support the defendant's claims."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Four: Structural obstacles may prove substantial.

The New Yorker

And the fallout could prove substantial for some on the new list.

The New York Times

Local effects can, however, prove substantial, particularly in semiarid regions where every millimetre of rain counts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Alternatively, Nintendo is likely to prove substantial similarity between the Rabbit and 10NES programs sufficient to support its infringement claims.

Harvard University

Thus, to show non-literal copyright infringement, Nintendo must ultimately prove substantial similarity between the 10NES and the Rabbit in protectable expression.

Harvard University

Buyers are no longer interested in meeting live with "information providers"; they expect field salespeople to bring new ideas and to create and prove substantial value.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

If the link to ISIS proves substantial, they would reinforce worries by Western security officials and others that the group remains a potent threat.

The New York Times

If the amount of CSs in metallurgical coke proves substantial, the evaluation of its properties (reactivity, strength) should be re-considered.

Carbon

But Hannon and Edmundson's show is a rare thing: a musical that touches the heart without relying on trite formulas and proves substantial enough to have warranted such a swift revival.

The Guardian

The recent financial crisis might have limited even more the developed countries from the necessary capital to invest in expensive power options but this might change in the future if the positive environmental effects of the nuclear power can be proven substantial.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

The harder part is proving substantial similarity - which is where the comparison of the RGB values of the available skin colors in the two games becomes important.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey that something is being demonstrated to be significant, prefer alternatives like "demonstrate significant" or "show considerable" over "prove substantial" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

Avoid using "prove" directly followed by adjectives like "substantial". Instead, ensure "prove" is followed by a noun or a clause that specifies what is being proven, or use alternative phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prove substantial" functions as a verb phrase, where "prove" is intended to act as a transitive verb, but it's followed by an adjective ("substantial") instead of a noun or a clause. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "prove substantial" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase is intended to convey that something is being demonstrated as significant or considerable. However, it's more appropriate to use alternatives such as "demonstrate significant" or "show considerable" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academia. Therefore, it's advisable to opt for more standard and grammatically correct alternatives when aiming for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrate significant

Replaces "prove substantial" with a more direct and grammatically sound alternative, emphasizing demonstration of significance.

show considerable

Similar to "demonstrate significant" but uses "show" instead of "demonstrate", providing a slightly less formal tone while retaining the core meaning.

establish significant

Emphasizes the act of firmly establishing something as significant, which can be a subtle but important distinction.

validate substantial

Highlights the act of confirming or validating something that is already perceived as substantial.

confirm significant

Focuses on confirming something of significance.

substantiate significant

Implies providing evidence to support a claim or assertion that is significant.

verify substantial

Focuses on verifying that something is indeed substantial, emphasizing the verification aspect.

evidence significant

Highlights the presentation of evidence to support the presence of something significant.

attest significant

Emphasizes a formal declaration or testimony to the significance of something.

bear out substantial

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the idea of confirming or supporting something substantial through evidence or testimony.

FAQs

What is a better way to say "prove substantial"?

Instead of "prove substantial", you can use phrases like "demonstrate significant", "show considerable", or "establish significant" to convey the idea of demonstrating something significant in a more grammatically correct manner.

Is "prove substantial" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "prove substantial" is not grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use alternative phrases such as "demonstrate significant" or "show considerable".

How can I use "prove" correctly in a sentence to indicate something significant?

Use "prove" followed by a noun or clause that clearly states what is being demonstrated. For example, "prove the significance of the findings" or "prove that the impact is considerable". Alternatively, use the phrases like "establish significant".

What's the difference between "prove substantial" and "demonstrate significant"?

The phrase "prove substantial" is grammatically awkward. "Demonstrate significant" is more grammatically sound and conveys the meaning of showing something that is of great importance or impact in a clear and direct way.