substantial damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"substantial damage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe significant harm or destruction that has occurred. For example: "The hurricane caused substantial damage to the coastal town, leaving many homes destroyed and businesses ruined." "The company's reputation suffered substantial damage after a major scandal was exposed." "The antique vase was dropped and suffered substantial damage, decreasing its value significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I would have expected more substantial damage".

The New York Times

Kathleen caused substantial damage throughout the entire Coachella Valley.

Stanford University

"Things are going well considering that there was substantial damage.

Independent

A similar quake there today would do substantial damage.

The New York Times

And yet that money would still have prevented substantial damage.

The New York Times

The linear accelerator at its Photon Factory suffered substantial damage.

The Economist

"We expect substantial damage from this event," he said.

The New York Times

The ICO had to demonstrate that nuisance callers caused "substantial damage or substantial distress".

The Guardian

They are going to suffer very substantial damage as a result and they deserve to".

The Guardian - Business

The failure was classified by the NTSB as an "accident", which requires "substantial" damage.

The Guardian - Tech

If such debris collides with functioning satellite equipment it can cause substantial damage.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the extent of damage, be specific. Instead of just saying "substantial damage", quantify the damage if possible (e.g., "The fire caused substantial damage, estimated at $5 million").

Common error

While "substantial damage" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive language to convey the specific nature and extent of the damage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial damage" functions as a noun phrase, where 'substantial' modifies the noun 'damage'. It describes the degree or extent of harm or destruction. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing consequences of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial damage" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe significant harm or destruction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from news reports to academic papers. While generally neutral in register, it's advisable to be specific when quantifying damage. Related phrases like "significant harm" or "considerable destruction" can provide variety in writing. Remember to avoid overuse in formal contexts and always strive for clarity and precision when describing the extent of damage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant harm

Replaces "damage" with "harm" and "substantial" with "significant", keeping a similar level of intensity.

considerable destruction

Substitutes "damage" with "destruction" and "substantial" with "considerable", emphasizing the extent of devastation.

major devastation

Highlights the scale of destruction, using "devastation" in place of "damage" and "major" to denote significance.

extensive impairment

Replaces "damage" with "impairment" and "substantial" with "extensive", focusing on the functional reduction caused.

severe impairment

Focuses on the severity of the damage by using "severe" as a replacement for "substantial".

serious degradation

Emphasizes the decline in quality or condition, using "degradation" instead of "damage" and "serious" for intensity.

marked deterioration

Highlights the process of worsening, substituting "damage" with "deterioration" and "substantial" with "marked".

grievous injury

Shifts the focus to physical harm, using "injury" instead of "damage" and "grievous" to denote seriousness.

notable wreckage

Focuses on the physical remains after destruction, using "wreckage" in place of "damage" and "notable" for emphasis.

palpable decline

Emphasizes the obvious and easily perceived decrease in quality or condition, replacing "damage" with "decline" and "substantial" with "palpable".

FAQs

How to use "substantial damage" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial damage" to describe significant harm or destruction to property, reputation, or other assets. For example, "The flood caused "substantial damage" to the town's infrastructure."

What can I say instead of "substantial damage"?

You can use alternatives like "significant harm", "considerable destruction", or "extensive impairment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "suffer substantial damage"?

Yes, it is correct to say "suffer "substantial damage"". It implies that something or someone has experienced a significant amount of harm or destruction.

What's the difference between "substantial damage" and "minor damage"?

"Substantial damage" indicates significant harm or destruction, whereas "minor damage" refers to slight or insignificant harm. The former implies a serious impact, while the latter suggests only superficial effects.