substantial obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to emphasize a significant duty or responsibility that someone has. Example: "The contract outlines a substantial obligation for the contractor to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The long stock position is beneficial as long as shares continue to climb, but the short calls, which represent a substantial obligation to deliver 600,000 shares at $32.00 in the event that the contracts are exercised at expiration, are a risk this investor is apparently willing to take.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In a statement, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Benton J. Campbell, said that the "substantial obligations" imposed on the defendants would serve as a deterrent to those "who seek to evade their legal obligations".

The New York Times

If the rich separate from the poor and form their own distinct political communities, the reciprocity argument will no longer support the claim that the rich have substantial obligations to the poor.

SEP

One of the most substantial obligations introduced by the IHR is the commitment of states parties to develop, strengthen, and maintain national capacities to identify, investigate, assess, and respond to public health events in their territories and to develop, strengthen, and maintain routine and emergency public health capacities at certain designated points of entry.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Thomas has been conspicuously reticent about his support for Weber, and neither loyalty nor a substantial buyout obligation binds him to a coach he didn't hire.

The New York Times

Despite the substantial monetary obligation, these four-year scholarships attracted more than 1.2 million applicants.

Forbes

Cognizant of its debt and ongoing losses, the company warned investors that "our substantial indebtedness [could] make it difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and failure to comply with these obligations could result in an event of default under those agreements, which could be difficult to cure, or result in our bankruptcy".

TechCrunch

Students who dropped out of the courses were left with substantial debt obligations, even though some of them had been told their new qualification would be free.

The Guardian

Even in countries where finance is less important, deposits equate to a big fraction of national income.Governments making promises to creditors are therefore taking on substantial extra obligations.

The Economist

When you track your spending--both day-to-day incidentals as well as more substantial monthly obligations--you learn a lot about where your money is going.

Huffington Post

"Given that so many of our obligations are either short-term or indexed or are real obligations, such as medical obligations or Social Security obligations, which are indexed, it wouldn't have a substantial effect, even if there were a willingness to do that, which, of course, there is not," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial obligation", ensure the context clearly defines the specific nature and scope of the duty or responsibility being described to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial obligation" for minor duties. Reserve it for situations where the responsibility is genuinely significant and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial obligation" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object. It describes a duty or responsibility that is considerable in amount, size, or importance. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial obligation" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase denoting a significant duty or responsibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific domains, it conveys a level of importance. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the duty's scope to prevent any ambiguity. Related alternatives include "significant responsibility" and "major commitment". Use "substantial obligation" when you want to emphasize the importance of a specific duty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant responsibility

Replaces 'obligation' with 'responsibility' while keeping 'substantial' as is, emphasizing duty.

significant duty

Replaces 'obligation' with 'duty' while keeping 'substantial' as is, reinforcing the sense of responsibility.

major commitment

Substitutes both words for synonyms, focusing on the commitment aspect.

onerous responsibility

Combines a strong adjective with 'responsibility' to convey a difficult duty.

binding commitment

Highlights the legally or morally binding nature of the commitment.

considerable liability

Shifts the focus to potential financial or legal responsibilities.

stringent requirement

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the obligation.

heavy burden

Highlights the onerous nature of the obligation.

major undertaking

Describes the obligation as a significant project or task.

critical undertaking

Focuses on the importance and commitment involved.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial obligation" to describe a significant duty or responsibility, such as, "The company has a "substantial obligation" to ensure the safety of its employees".

What's a good alternative to "substantial obligation"?

Alternatives include "significant responsibility", "major commitment", or "considerable liability", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "substantial obligation" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantial obligation" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly in legal, business, or academic contexts where precise and impactful language is important.

What is the difference between "substantial obligation" and "minor obligation"?

"Substantial obligation" refers to a significant duty with important consequences, while "minor obligation" implies a less important or impactful responsibility. It is important to choose the phrase that accurately reflects the weight and impact of the duty being described.