substantial collection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial collection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large or significant amount of items gathered or accumulated, often in contexts like art, literature, or data. Example: "The museum boasts a substantial collection of ancient artifacts that attract visitors from around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The hall has a substantial collection of artefacts collected over the years.

Wikipedia

A substantial collection of 228 papers was collected at UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage from different sources in Central Asia, Near East and North Africa (15th 19th century) for the purpose of material analysis (ref-collection).

Heritage Science

A more substantial collection, Descartes and the Animals, followed in 1954.

The Guardian - Books

Ms. White and Mr. Levy amassed a substantial collection of classical art over several decades.

The New York Times

Howard Bloch, in the introduction, as the first substantial collection of fabliaux, in any language, for today's general reader.

The New Yorker

Like the Picasso exhibition, "Paris Through the Window" builds on the Philadephia Museum's substantial collection of early Modern art.

The New York Times - Arts

They donated it to the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, which holds a substantial collection of Sendak materials.

The New York Times

"Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people," he wrote in the preface to his first substantial collection, "Poems" (1964).

The New York Times - Books

Schumann is the inspiration behind this substantial collection of miniatures – there's the odd quotation and several clear references to his highly personalised art.

The Guardian - Music

The Punk Magazine archives are now at Yale, as are Danny Fields's papers, and there's a substantial collection of posters and ephemera at Cornell.

The Guardian - Music

Ever since it announced the acquisition last fall, analysts have questioned whether Wells Fargo could handle adding Wachovia's substantial collection of bad assets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial collection" to emphasize the significance or size of a group of items, especially when describing assets, data, or cultural artifacts. For instance: "The library houses a "substantial collection" of first editions."

Common error

Avoid using "substantial collection" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a lot of" or "many" when describing everyday items. For example, instead of saying "I have a "substantial collection" of mugs", say "I have a lot of mugs."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial collection" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "collection". As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it describing artefacts, papers, art, poems, and more.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "substantial collection" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a significant and often valuable accumulation of items. Ludwig confirms that it's appropriate for formal and neutral contexts. It commonly appears in news, media, and scientific writings, implying importance alongside sheer size. Alternatives include "considerable accumulation" or "significant assemblage", each with slightly different connotations. When writing, remember that while correct, the phrase is generally not suitable for informal communication. According to Ludwig, "substantial collection" is correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable accumulation

Replaces "collection" with "accumulation" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the process of gathering.

significant assemblage

Uses "assemblage" instead of "collection" and "significant" instead of "substantial", suggesting a more formal or curated gathering.

extensive array

Employs "array" and "extensive", highlighting the variety and breadth of the collection.

sizeable inventory

Replaces "collection" with "inventory" and "substantial" with "sizeable", often used in a business or commercial context.

large compilation

Substitutes "collection" with "compilation" and "substantial" with "large", focusing on the act of compiling items.

massive aggregation

Uses "aggregation" instead of "collection" and "massive" instead of "substantial", indicating a very large and possibly disorganized gathering.

notable accumulation

Replaces "substantial" with "notable", emphasizing the importance or worthiness of the collected items.

remarkable stockpile

Employs "stockpile" instead of "collection" and "remarkable" instead of "substantial", suggesting a reserve or accumulation for future use.

copious assortment

Substitutes "collection" with "assortment" and "substantial" with "copious", highlighting the variety and abundance of the collected items.

major repository

Uses "repository" instead of "collection" and "major" instead of "substantial", indicating a place where a significant number of items are stored.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial collection" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial collection" to describe a large or significant accumulation of items, such as "The museum has a "substantial collection" of ancient artifacts" or "The research team gathered a "substantial collection" of data for their analysis".

What are some synonyms for "substantial collection"?

Alternatives to "substantial collection" include "considerable accumulation", "significant assemblage", or "extensive array". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "substantial collection" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantial collection" is appropriate for formal writing. It adds a tone of importance and magnitude when describing a group of items, making it suitable for academic papers, business reports, and other professional documents.

What is the difference between "substantial collection" and "large collection"?

"Substantial collection" implies not only a large quantity but also a degree of significance or value. While "large collection" simply refers to size, "substantial collection" suggests that the collection is noteworthy or important in some way.