substantial girth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial girth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a significant width or thickness, often in a physical context. Example: "The tree had a substantial girth, making it a perfect candidate for the treehouse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was fairly obvious, Peters said, that Briarcrest wanted to use Oher's substantial girth to force Gasol away from the hoop.

The New York Times - Sports

HTC Shift owners (see our review here) who have a little extra coin and don't mind adding some relatively substantial girth to their device may find solace in a $240 extended battery from Mugen.

TechCrunch

He also increased Hanna's already substantial girth.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A third of the linemen showed signs of the condition, which is more common among men with large body mass, substantial neck size, abdominal girth and a propensity for snoring.

The New York Times - Sports

The early designs and prototypes had a long protrusion from the top, kind of like a Muppet's nose, the purpose of which was to offer a more substantial sensation, adding a little girth.

Independent

However if your cat is pushing 20 pounds (and more), you'll definitely need something substantial enough to hold his girth.

WikiHow

Management has substantial effects: planting at high densities greatly reduces tree girth growth rates and delays the occurrence of large boughs, tree hollows and fallen timber by decades.

Biological Conservation

Girth 2m 65cm.

The Guardian

Your girth?

The New Yorker

Of impressive girth.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Just a little girth.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical attributes, use "substantial girth" to emphasize a significant circumference or width, particularly when precision is less important than conveying a general sense of size. For example, "The oak tree had a "substantial girth", indicating its age and health."

Common error

Avoid using "substantial girth" in purely abstract or metaphorical contexts where physical dimensions are irrelevant. It's better suited for tangible objects or beings. For example, saying a theory has "substantial girth" is less effective than saying it has "considerable depth" or "significant scope".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial girth" functions primarily as a descriptive term. It combines the adjective "substantial", indicating a considerable amount or size, with the noun "girth", referring to the circumference or width of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial girth" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes something with a significant width or circumference. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While relatively rare, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, offering a specific and descriptive way to convey size. Alternative phrases include "considerable circumference" and "significant width". When using the phrase, focus on describing tangible objects rather than abstract concepts to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable circumference

Replaces "girth" with "circumference", a more formal synonym, while maintaining the emphasis on size.

large circumference

A more straightforward and common way to express significant size.

significant width

Focuses on the width aspect of size, making it suitable when width is the primary attribute.

wide girth

A more direct and simple way of expressing a large circumference.

considerable width

Similar to "significant width", but with a slightly more formal tone.

ample breadth

Uses "breadth" to emphasize the wideness and comprehensiveness of the size.

notable thickness

Highlights the thickness of an object, suitable when depth is more relevant than circumference.

impressive diameter

Emphasizes the diameter, a specific measurement of width, often used in technical contexts.

substantial size

A more general term that encompasses overall size, not just girth.

significant bulk

Emphasizes the mass and volume, implying a large and heavy size.

FAQs

What does "substantial girth" mean?

The phrase "substantial girth" refers to a significant or considerable width or circumference of something. It's often used to describe physical objects like trees or people.

When is it appropriate to use the term "substantial girth"?

Use "substantial girth" when you want to emphasize the large circumference or width of something physical. It implies that the object is notably thick or wide.

What are some alternatives to "substantial girth"?

You can use alternatives like "considerable circumference", "significant width", or "ample breadth" depending on the specific aspect of size you want to highlight.

Is "substantial girth" formal or informal?

"Substantial girth" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase. It's suitable for both news and media and scientific writing but might sound slightly unusual in very informal conversation.