substantial questions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial questions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to important or significant inquiries that require thoughtful consideration or discussion. Example: "The committee raised substantial questions regarding the proposed policy changes that need to be addressed before moving forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

As Ms. Penney noted, despite the fresh details in the formal charges, substantial questions remain unanswered.

The New York Times

Now he's been released, because the court agrees that his appeal raises "substantial questions".

The New York Times

Thai internet users raised substantial questions concerning the official version of events.

The Guardian - Opinion

The appellate court ruling said Mr. Siegelman had raised "substantial questions" in his appeal.

The New York Times

Judge Howard based his order on what he said were "substantial questions" about the possibility of agonizing death.

The New York Times

But the appeals judges said today that "substantial questions" had been raised about the "merits and form of the injunction".

The New York Times

That raised substantial questions about whether Megrahi had breached the terms of his release on licence in August 2009.

The Guardian

The panel found that contrary to Judge Chaiet's ruling, there were substantial questions that could be challenged on appeal.

The New York Times

Public spending experts, trade unions and opposition parties said these disclosures raise substantial questions about the NPD programme.

The Guardian

They argued that his case raised substantial questions of law that mandated his release until the appeal was resolved.

The New York Times

Recent research has raised substantial questions about his conclusions and led to a review of other arson convictions in Texas.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial questions", ensure the context clearly indicates the importance or significance of the inquiries being made. For example, "The investigation raised substantial questions about the company's financial practices."

Common error

Avoid using "substantial questions" for trivial or unimportant inquiries. The phrase implies that the questions are significant and require careful consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial questions" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "substantial" modifies the noun "questions". It indicates that the questions are significant, important, or considerable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial questions" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize the importance of certain inquiries. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it carries a neutral to formal tone and is prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the questions are truly significant and require careful thought. Alternatives include "significant inquiries" and "critical questions", and the phrase should not be used for trivial matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant inquiries

Replaces "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the inquiries.

major points of inquiry

Focuses on the "major" or key aspects of the questions being asked.

critical questions

Highlights the crucial nature of the questions.

essential areas of investigation

Shifts from questions to areas, indicating key topics for investigation.

key issues to consider

Emphasizes the importance of the issues that need contemplation.

fundamental matters for discussion

Replaces "questions" with "matters", focusing on the basis of the discussion.

important lines of questioning

Highlights that some lines are very important.

serious doubts

Focuses on concerns.

notable dilemmas

Highlights that the topic is a serious problem.

considerable uncertainties

Replace the word questions by the idea that there are topics not known.

FAQs

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

Use "substantial questions" to refer to significant or important inquiries that need thoughtful consideration. For example: "The auditor's report raised "substantial questions" about the company's accounting methods."

What are some alternatives to saying "substantial questions"?

You can use alternatives such as "significant inquiries", "major points of inquiry", or "critical questions" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "substantial questions"?

It is appropriate to use "substantial questions" when you want to emphasize that the questions being raised are important, significant, and require careful consideration.

Is "substantial questions" formal or informal language?

"Substantial questions" can be used in both formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news, academic and professional settings. Its formality depends on the surrounding vocabulary and context.