substantial ability to

USAGE SUMMARY

'substantial ability to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone or something having a good amount of skill or capability in a particular area. For example, "She has a substantial ability to analyze complex data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Certain clay minerals, notably palygorskite, sepiolite, and some smectites, possess substantial ability to remove coloured bodies from oil.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fuller's earth, any fine-grained, naturally occurring earthy substance that has a substantial ability to adsorb impurities or colouring bodies from fats, grease, or oils.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More significantly, it is observed that Si-69-treated nano ZnO has substantial ability to enhance the R∞ value of the SBR nanocomposite.

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

Here, like in the baby food case, there is no reason for a "giants" defense to be accepted, particularly since Microsoft undoubtedly has a substantial ability to compete now.

Forbes

Hydrotropes are a class of compounds though amphiphilic in character, they have short hydrophobic regions and thus differ from classical surfactants, yet they display substantial ability to solubilise non-polar compounds in water [Langmuir 13 (1997 3235]].

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Compared to commercial nitro plasticizers, BDNPEF synthesized in this study showed good plasticization efficiency with a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg) and viscosity of uncured glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) blends, as well as substantial ability to plasticize the GAP-based polyurethanes (PUs).

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

A good deal of recent research has been concentrated in this direction and has indicated that steel members have a substantial inherent ability to resist fire so that additional fire protection can be either reduced or eliminated completely.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

The economic value of an integrated community campaign appears substantial: the ability to achieve high levels of coverage with economic efficiency equal or potentially superior to non-integrated (vertical) programs, without having to organize multiple programs.

BMC Health Services Research

The results of NO scavenging assay revealed the substantial ability of the extracts to scavenge NO radical).

BioMed Research International

"I think I have tremendous advantages in that special election, given my name recognition, substantial record and ability to raise funds," Ms. Holtzman said.

The New York Times

When manipulations are dangerous or consume substantial resources, the ability to perform the manipulation mentally can be invaluable.

Psychology of Learning and Motivation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial ability to" when you want to emphasize that someone or something possesses a significant degree of capability, skill, or power to perform a specific action. It's useful in formal and scientific writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial ability to" if a more specific adjective would provide greater clarity. For instance, instead of saying "The software has a substantial ability to process data", specify the nature of the ability, such as "The software has a rapid ability to process data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial ability to" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, typically indicating a significant level of capability or competence. As Ludwig AI states, it highlights a notable capacity or skill.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

26%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial ability to" is a phrase used to express a significant degree of capability or competence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for written English and indicates its suitability for emphasizing a notable skill or power. Primarily found in scientific and news media contexts, this phrase offers a formal way to highlight remarkable features or competences. When using "substantial ability to", consider whether a more specific adjective might enhance clarity, and be mindful of its formality in casual settings. Alternatives such as "considerable capacity to" or "significant competence to" may offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember that while grammatically sound, context dictates the most effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable capacity to

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", emphasizing the potential to do something rather than the skill itself.

considerable skill at

Emphasizes expertise specifically related to skill at doing something.

demonstrated capability to

Adds "demonstrated" to emphasize that the ability has been proven or shown.

significant competence to

Substitutes "ability" with "competence", focusing on the adequacy of skills for a specific task.

extensive potential for

Replaces "ability" with "potential", focusing on future possibilities rather than current skills.

significant facility with

Replaces "ability" with "facility", suggesting ease and fluency in performing a task.

marked aptitude for

Replaces "substantial ability" with "marked aptitude", highlighting a natural talent or inclination.

notable proficiency in

Replaces "ability" with "proficiency", emphasizing expertise in a specific area.

remarkable talent for

Substitutes "ability" with "talent", highlighting innate skill and gift.

ample power to

Uses "power" instead of "ability" to highlight the strength or force to accomplish something.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial ability to" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial ability to" to describe someone or something that has a significant capacity or skill to perform a task. For example, "The new drug has a "substantial ability to" reduce inflammation".

What are some alternatives to "substantial ability to"?

Alternatives include "considerable capacity to", "significant competence to", or "marked aptitude for" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "substantial ability to" too formal for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "substantial ability to" may sound somewhat formal for casual conversations. In everyday speech, simpler phrases like "very good at" or "capable of" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "substantial ability to" and "considerable ability to"?

Both phrases are similar, but "substantial ability to" suggests a solid and significant level of capability, while "considerable ability to" emphasizes the notable extent or degree of that ability. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.