spent substantial time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spent substantial time" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a significant amount of time was dedicated to a certain activity or task. Example sentence: She spent substantial time researching the company before her job interview.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Nearly all of these leaders spent substantial time outside of Iraq.

The New York Times - Magazine

But lawyers who have spent substantial time investigating prison conditions say guards are too quick to assume consent.

The New York Times

Camp may be the first time children have spent substantial time with people whose background — home, race, or religion — is different from their own.

Harvard University

Both candidates have also spent substantial time courting the city's sizable gay community, which may prove to be the deciding factor but has not unified around either candidate.

The New York Times

Both groups have spent substantial time talking about Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and nuclear weapons, so we've grouped all of those topics into "foreign policy" above.

The Washington Post

Ms. Washburn, who has spent substantial time in China, isn't dabbling here: her conviction is clear, as is her chemistry with the ensemble, which features Béla Fleck on banjo, Casey Driessen on fiddle and Ben Sollee on cello.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

"Tata spends substantial time there, mentoring students on disruptive innovation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Students can expect to spend substantial time in work-study placements with local businesses.

The New York Times

MIT's curriculum requires all undergraduates to spend substantial time on subjects like literature, languages, economics, music, and history.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Be sure you comply with the law in your state, and remember that guidelines may differ if you spend substantial time in different states.

Harvard University

Gen. Charles C. Campbell, said his assessment team would spend substantial time in Afghanistan before presenting recommendations to Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander of the Central Command, which directed the war in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research or investigative processes, using "spent substantial time" effectively conveys the depth and commitment involved. Be precise about what that time was devoted to.

Common error

Avoid using "spent substantial time" without clearly indicating what the time was spent on. For instance, instead of saying "The team spent substantial time on the project", specify "The team spent substantial time analyzing market data for the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spent substantial time" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of dedicating a significant amount of time to something. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase is used to describe the time invested in various activities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spent substantial time" is a versatile and grammatically correct way to describe dedicating a significant amount of time to an activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communications, it's crucial to specify the activity to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "invested considerable time" or "devoted significant time" can add a more formal tone. Remember to ensure that when using "spent substantial time", you provide enough context to highlight the importance or complexity of the task at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invested a considerable amount of time

Replaces "spent" with "invested" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the effort as an investment.

devoted considerable time

Uses "devoted" instead of "spent", highlighting dedication, and "considerable" for "substantial".

dedicated a significant period

Emphasizes the dedication of time, using "significant period" to replace the original phrase's emphasis on quantity.

allocated significant time

Highlights the allocation of time resources, using "significant" instead of "substantial".

put in a good deal of time

Replaces "spent" with "put in", changing the tone to be more informal, and uses "a good deal" for "substantial".

dedicated a large chunk of time

Replaces "substantial" with "large chunk", conveying a more casual tone.

invested a significant amount of hours

More specific with "hours", and uses "invested" instead of "spent".

committed significant hours

Uses "committed" highlighting dedication but can be less descriptive.

labored extensively

This alternative phrase implies "spent substantial time" but with more hard work and labor

worked at length

This alternative phrase implies "spent substantial time" but focuses more on the work aspect

FAQs

How can I rephrase "spent substantial time" in a more formal way?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "invested considerable time", "devoted significant time", or "allocated significant time" to maintain a professional tone.

Is it better to say "spent a substantial amount of time" or "spent substantial time"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "spent substantial time" is generally more concise and preferred. "Spent a substantial amount of time" isn't wrong, but can often be shortened for better readability.

What does it mean to have "spent substantial time" on something?

It means that a significant amount of time was dedicated to a particular task or activity. The implication is that the task required considerable effort or attention.

What's the difference between "spent considerable time" and "spent substantial time"?

The difference is subtle. "Spent considerable time" and "spent substantial time" are largely interchangeable, both indicating a significant amount of time was used. "Substantial" might imply a slightly larger or more impactful amount of time than "considerable".