substantial number of students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial number of students" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a large quantity of people, such as in this example: "There was a substantial number of students protesting against the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"There's quite a substantial number of students that break the law.

The Guardian

"This is the first time a substantial number of students at a variety of levels are becoming interested in causes.

The New York Times

But critics contend that a substantial number of students, faculty and administrators at the school are either members or supporters of the Unification Church.

The New York Times

Some protesters, especially in big cities where a substantial number of students and political activists live, could be primarily motivated by political grievances and democratic demands.

The Washington Post

Reliable numbers are elusive, but a former senior official in Chicago's public schools said that a "substantial number" of students were "motivated to get a great education but make a rational choice based on risk and justified fear not to go to school".

The New York Times

For a substantial number of students, borrowing to pay for graduate school is inevitable, explained Caitlin.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Here is idea number two: what about targeted outreach programs that would enable medical students to attend the SSO annual meeting, perhaps by funding a substantial number of student travel scholarships?

Annals of Surgical Oncology

"You've really had years of fairly substantial numbers of students coming out of the better schools," said Conrad Harper, a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York.

The New York Times

This year, once again, the country's most selective liberal arts institutions will offer spots to substantial numbers of students with less than top academic credentials who will perform only passably in class and segregate themselves from other students.

The New York Times

Romania, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic are among the destinations for substantial numbers of students over the last few years.

BBC

Too many colleges stick to traditional recruiting efforts — often concentrating on high schools with substantial numbers of students who meet eligibility requirements and those that have previously sent graduates to enroll as freshmen, according to Shaun R. Harper, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial number of students", ensure it's followed by context indicating what makes that number significant. For example, compare it to a previous number, or relate it to an expected number.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial number of students" without providing context or comparison. Without proper context, the reader may not understand how large or important the number is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial number of students" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun. It quantifies the noun, indicating that the group of students is considerable. Ludwig AI confirms its use across multiple contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "substantial number of students" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a significant quantity of students. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates its common usage in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context to highlight the significance of the number. Consider alternatives like "significant amount of students" or "large number of students" based on the desired nuance. By providing comparison points, writers can avoid ambiguity and ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant amount of students

Replaces "number" with "amount", emphasizing the quantity from a more general perspective.

considerable number of students

Substitutes "substantial" with "considerable", suggesting a notable and worthy-of-attention quantity.

sizeable number of students

A more descriptive way of saying a "large number", focusing on the size or extent of the student group.

large number of students

Replaces "substantial" with "large", providing a simpler and more direct expression of quantity.

appreciable number of students

Similar to "considerable", but slightly more formal, indicating a quantity that is easily perceived or measured.

notable number of students

Emphasizes that the quantity of students is worthy of being noticed or recognized.

significant portion of students

Changes "number" to "portion", shifting the focus to the proportion of students rather than the absolute count.

respectable number of students

Suggests the number of students is of a reasonable or satisfactory size.

major segment of students

Focuses on describing a group that represents a significant section of the total student population.

good number of students

An informal and positive way to describe the quantity of students.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial number of students" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial number of students" to refer to a noticeably large quantity of students, such as, "A "substantial number of students" /s/substantial+number+of+students protested the tuition increase."

What is a good alternative to "substantial number of students"?

Alternatives to "substantial number of students" include "significant amount of students", "large number of students", or "considerable number of students", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "substantial number of students" or "large amount of students"?

"Substantial number of students" and "large amount of students" are both acceptable, but "substantial number" is often perceived as slightly more formal and precise than "large amount".

What does "substantial" mean in the context of "substantial number of students"?

In this context, "substantial" means considerable in size, amount, or importance. It suggests that the number of students is large enough to be significant or noteworthy.