substantial defects

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial defects" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant flaws or issues in a product, system, or process that may affect its functionality or quality. Example: "The inspection revealed substantial defects in the construction of the building, necessitating immediate repairs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The earlier gold standard system had likewise contained substantial defects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I wish I could brag about them over beers, but due to substantial defects in my personality, both failed to evolve into anything lasting longer than a few hours.

The New York Times - Magazine

J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who oversaw the creation of the atomic bomb, was lauded as a patriot after the United States dropped the bomb on Japan, but nine years later he was disgraced, accused of Communist sympathies and "substantial defects of character".

The New Yorker

However, in the case of the DWCNTs fluorinated at 400 °C, the recovery of strong RBMs from the inner tube and weakened RBMs from the outer tube indicated the selective introduction of substantial defects on the outer tube while preserving the original tubular shape.

Chinese Journal of Catalysis

It's easy for those of us whose views were far better represented by Bernie, who feared too many feminists would overlook her substantial defects, and who were unfairly called sexist, to grow weary of the all the references to her nomination being historic.

Huffington Post

Since DNKv4 motoneurons displayed substantial defects in repetitive firing, we investigated whether these defects would be translated to behaviors that involve repetitive or rhythmic movement.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The results of the research demonstrate the substantial defect tolerance of the bonded composite components.

Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

The spt16-m allele contains two amino acids substitution (K692AR693A) in its tandem pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and displays a subtle defect in transcription initiation but a substantial defect in DNA replication-coupled nucleosome assembly (Yang et al., 2016).

Protein & Cell

We also monitored possible effects of A2ML MO injection on blood vessel formation in the liver by inspecting fliGFP transgenic animals, and found no substantial defect in blood vessel formation (Fig. S2A B).

Plosone

On the other hand, Notch1 receptors lacking the S1 loop exhibit a substantial defect in transport to the cell surface, with steady state cell-surface levels reduced by 5 10-fold, even though there are comparable levels of overall expression.

Plosone

Given our failure to find a substantial defect in ErbB2 transcription or protein degradation rates, we suspected this higher molecular weight form may represent ubiquitinated ErbB2 that accumulates upon POH1 knockdown and may be less easily detectable by western blotting due to its heterologous molecular weight.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing issues in formal reports, use "substantial defects" to convey the seriousness and scale of the problem. For less formal contexts, consider alternatives like "significant flaws" or "major shortcomings".

Common error

Avoid using "substantial defects" in casual conversation. It can sound overly formal or technical. Instead, opt for simpler terms like "big problems" or "major issues".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial defects" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "defects". This construction typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing noteworthy flaws or shortcomings. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial defects" is a noun phrase used to describe significant flaws or shortcomings, particularly in formal and scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various writing scenarios. While alternatives like "significant flaws" or "major shortcomings" can be used in less formal situations, "substantial defects" effectively conveys the severity and scale of the issues at hand. Remember to avoid using this phrase in casual conversation, as it might sound overly technical. The phrase sees frequent use in scientific and news contexts, emphasizing its role in formal reporting and analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant flaws

Replaces "defects" with "flaws", emphasizing a problem or imperfection.

major shortcomings

Substitutes both "substantial" and "defects" to indicate important deficiencies.

serious imperfections

Replaces "defects" with "imperfections", suggesting a less critical fault.

considerable deficiencies

Uses "considerable" instead of "substantial" and "deficiencies" for "defects", maintaining the formal tone.

critical faults

Emphasizes the severity by using "critical" instead of "substantial" and "faults" for "defects".

material faults

Uses "material" to stress that faults have a large impact.

marked deficiencies

Replaces "substantial" with "marked", indicating noticeable shortcomings.

prominent flaws

Highlights the visibility of the flaws, replacing "defects" with "flaws".

pronounced imperfections

Uses "pronounced" instead of "substantial" to emphasize how easily the imperfection is noticed.

significant vulnerabilities

Shifts the focus to potential weaknesses or exposures by using "vulnerabilities".

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial defects" to describe significant flaws or issues. For example: "The audit revealed "substantial defects" in the company's financial reporting."

What can I say instead of "substantial defects"?

You can use alternatives like "significant flaws", "major shortcomings", or "serious imperfections" depending on the specific context.

Is "substantial defects" a formal way to describe problems?

Yes, "substantial defects" is a more formal way to describe significant problems. It's suitable for technical reports, legal documents, or other professional contexts.

What's the difference between "substantial defects" and "minor imperfections"?

"Substantial defects" implies serious flaws that can significantly impact functionality or quality, while "minor imperfections" refers to small, less consequential issues.