substantial pain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial pain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe a significant level of discomfort or suffering, often in medical or emotional discussions. Example: "After the surgery, the patient reported experiencing substantial pain that required stronger medication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All of this results in a cost structure substantially higher than before that could be reversed only with substantial pain.

Princeton University

Few speak openly of the substantial pain of leaving home.

The New York Times

Patients with bone metastases from advanced cancer often experience skeletal-related events (SRE), which cause substantial pain and morbidity.

European Journal of Cancer

Frozen shoulder occurs mostly between the ages of 40 and 70, is more common in women, and results in stiffness, loss of motion and often substantial pain.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But O'Neill feels substantial pain, and because the injury is to the bone, Hershon explained, there would be no way to alleviate the discomfort he felt.

The New York Times - Sports

Subsequent stab wounds to the thigh and buttocks resulted in "bleeding and severe puncture wounds" that caused Ms. Schepis "substantial pain and suffering," the records say.

The New York Times

"They don't in general provide substantial pain relief for a long period of time," said Clark, who leads the pain service at VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

Stanford University

Symptomatic disease can give rise to substantial pain, impairment of hand function and quality of life, leading to significant socioeconomic cost.

Maturitas

According to prosecutors, Mr. Melendez then punched the man repeatedly in his face, causing "substantial pain" and "bruising and swelling" to his left eye.

The New York Times

X-rays taken on Nunez's arm during the game were negative, although Nunez seemed to be in substantial pain after he was hit.

The New York Times - Sports

Rather than compete with the Liberal Democratic Party on the basis of seductive promises, the Democrats took the usual tack of warning voters that substantial pain lies ahead for Japan after years of overindulgence and drift.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing medical conditions or legal situations, use "substantial pain" to clearly convey a significant level of discomfort or suffering, which can influence treatment decisions or legal outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial pain" when the context suggests only mild discomfort. Overstating the severity can undermine your credibility and potentially misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial pain" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "pain". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to describe a significant level of discomfort or suffering. Examples from Ludwig show it used in medical and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantial pain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a significant level of discomfort or suffering. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most commonly in scientific and news contexts, and is considered appropriate for formal writing. Related phrases include "severe pain" and "intense discomfort". When using this phrase, it's important to accurately reflect the level of pain to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant discomfort

Replaces "pain" with "discomfort" and "substantial" with "significant", focusing on a less intense sensation.

intense discomfort

Similar to "significant discomfort" but emphasizes the intensity using "intense".

severe agony

Emphasizes the intensity of the pain by using the word "agony" and "severe", implying a more extreme experience.

extreme pain

Highlights the severity of the pain, using "extreme" to indicate a very high level of pain.

serious pain

Indicates that the pain is not trivial and requires attention; replaces substantial with serious.

major discomfort

Uses "major" to indicate a significant level of discomfort, similar to "substantial".

considerable suffering

Shifts the focus to the overall experience of suffering, rather than just the physical sensation of pain; replaces "substantial" with "considerable".

notable pain

Replaces "substantial" with "notable", indicating that the pain is easily observed or recognized.

marked suffering

Similar to "considerable suffering" but uses "marked" to indicate a noticeable level of suffering.

acute pain

Describes pain that is sharp and sudden in onset, suggesting a different quality of pain experience.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "substantial pain" in a sentence?

Use "substantial pain" to describe a significant level of physical or emotional distress. For instance, "The injury caused "substantial pain", requiring immediate medical attention."

What are some alternatives to "substantial pain"?

You can use alternatives such as "severe pain", "considerable suffering", or "intense discomfort depending on the context".

Is it appropriate to use "substantial pain" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantial pain" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in medical, legal, or academic contexts where precise language is important. It clearly conveys a significant level of distress.

What distinguishes "substantial pain" from "minor discomfort"?

"Substantial pain" indicates a significant and impactful level of suffering, whereas "minor discomfort" refers to a slight and often temporary inconvenience. The former suggests a serious concern, while the latter implies something easily managed.