substantial people

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial people" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts where you want to refer to people who have significant influence, importance, or presence, but it is better to clarify the meaning. Example: "The conference was attended by substantial people in the industry, making it a valuable networking opportunity."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If the EU is to flourish, it must keep its doors open.The second task is to choose substantial people for the two new positions.

The Economist

Yet these were substantial people, steeled by the experience of war Mr Healey gave his first big political speech in uniform and defined by the great ideological battle, between left and right, of their time.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"To have a substantial effect, people would have to anticipate substantial purchases," Mr. Kohn said.

The New York Times

Rather than building substantial walls, people hung rolled mats along the eaves, unrolling them as necessary to protect the inhabitants from sun, rain, or the night air.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Shiny new hardware that's current and substantial leads people to believe that there might have been some other updating in the house as well".

The New York Times

The structured and participative methodology of this CC allowed a multidisciplinary perspective and a substantial lay people input.

BMC Women's Health

Placid and fifties-European in ambience, these establishments cater to substantial-looking people who dance tamely to retro pop and look for a bed partner.

The New Yorker

A substantial number of people who did the course worked with people in the broad area of health or the helping professions.

BMC Psychiatry

"It already has a fairly substantial number of people using the site [a reported 1.5 million people a month] and they can potentially take advantage of that.

The Guardian - Tech

"We have a substantial number of people from our community deployed in Iraq, so I'm sure many people feel the same way".

The New York Times

We're printing coupons that save people substantial money.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger and more common alternatives like "influential individuals" or "significant figures" to improve clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial people" as a generic term for 'important people'. Instead, choose more precise language that reflects the specific quality you're trying to convey, such as "leaders", "experts", or "key stakeholders".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial people" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "people". It denotes a group of individuals considered to be significant, either in number, influence, or importance. This is reflected in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantial people" refers to individuals who are noteworthy due to their importance, influence, or significant number. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates that the phrase isn't very common and may benefit from being replaced with clearer, more specific alternatives such as ""influential individuals"" or "significant figures", depending on the context. It's used in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral but potentially formal register. To enhance writing, consider specifying the quality that makes these people 'substantial' to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

influential individuals

Focuses on the power and effect the people have.

significant individuals

Emphasizes the importance and impact of the people.

prominent figures

Highlights the visibility and recognition of the people.

important people

Highlights the significance or power held by the individuals.

notable persons

Stresses that these are people worthy of attention or fame.

key figures

Focuses on people who play pivotal roles in a particular context.

considerable individuals

Indicates that the people are worthy of respect and attention.

recognized individuals

Emphasizes the wide recognition and acknowledgement of these people.

leading personalities

Suggests that these individuals are at the forefront of a field or movement.

large number of people

Shifts the focus to the quantity of people.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial people" to refer to people who are important, numerous, or influential. For example, "The project required the support of "influential individuals" to succeed."

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

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "prominent figures", "significant individuals", or ""influential individuals"".

Is "substantial people" a formal or informal phrase?

"Substantial people" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally perceived as slightly formal. For more informal situations, consider alternatives like "important people".

When is it appropriate to use "substantial people" instead of "many people"?

Use "substantial people" when you want to emphasize the significance or impact of the people involved, not just their quantity. If the focus is solely on the number, "large number of people" is more appropriate.