substantial stress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial stress" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation or experience that is particularly stressful or difficult. For example, "The teacher felt substantial stress in trying to balance the interests of all her students".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Your failure to adhere to these principles resulted in substantial stress to Mr Clark and his family at a time when they were most vulnerable and could have resulted in Child A being taken back into care unnecessarily and Mr Clark's prosecution as a result of your false allegation.

The Guardian

The captain, on the other hand, showed substantial stress when he returned from a trip to the toilet, the plane already in a steep dive, and said, "What's happening?" and, when he discovered both engines shut down, "Get away in the engines".

The New York Times

If there is a substantial stress orientation change across the plate interface, it will appear in the inversion results as stress heterogeneity.

Earth, Planets and Space

It is also difficult to change a cross-linked polymer's shape without a corresponding loss of material properties or substantial stress development.

Science Magazine

As cities grow they first impose substantial stress on their surrounding water environment, but then, as comprehensive wastewater infrastructure is installed, much of that stress is removed.

Environmental Modelling & Software

Children with food allergy and their parents may experience substantial stress related to the risk of serious reactions and the demands of allergy management.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Whereas the ever-growing seedings need more nutrition, and had to confront all substantial stresses and adjust themselves to survive.

BMC Genomics

It has been pointed out that a cough results in substantial stresses on the body which makes voluntary cough a useful tool in physical diagnosis.

Cough

A substantial hyperthermic stress (fast heat stress; 1°C increase per approx 2.5 h from 24 32±1°C in 18 h) was also used to ensure that bleaching occurred in A. millepora.

Plosone

The case against her is withdrawn instantly, but she complains that the process has caused her substantial psychological stress.

The Guardian

Terry Marsh, senior hydrologist at the CEH, said: "Late May soils were the driest on record across large parts of eastern and central England, causing substantial agricultural stress [and] impacting on crop yields.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of external factors (e.g., economic downturns, policy changes) on individuals or systems, use "substantial stress" to emphasize the significant negative impact experienced as a result.

Common error

While "substantial stress" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in very casual or informal settings. Simpler phrases like "a lot of stress" or "significant pressure" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial stress" functions as a noun phrase, where "substantial" is an adjective modifying the noun "stress". Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples show it describing conditions that cause significant strain.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial stress" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig, to describe situations characterized by a significant degree of strain or pressure. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it serves to emphasize the severity of the stress being experienced. While alternatives like "significant pressure" and "considerable strain" exist, "substantial stress" maintains a formal and precise tone, making it suitable for professional and academic discourse. Remember to reserve its use for situations truly marked by significant pressure, and be mindful of overuse in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense pressure

Replaces "substantial" with "intense", emphasizing a higher degree of pressure.

significant pressure

Changes "stress" to "pressure", implying a burden or strain.

major difficulty

Shifts the focus to the level of difficulty experienced.

significant challenge

Focuses on the challenging aspect of a stressful situation.

considerable strain

Replaces "stress" with "strain", suggesting a force that causes tension or deformation.

marked tension

Substitutes stress with tension, focusing on emotional or relational unease.

heavy burden

Substitutes "substantial stress" with "heavy burden", conveying a sense of responsibility or worry.

notable adversity

Replaces "stress" with "adversity", highlighting challenging or unfavorable conditions.

severe hardship

Changes the phrase to suggest extreme difficulty or suffering.

pronounced duress

Replaces "stress" with "duress", indicating suffering or coercion.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial stress" to describe situations that cause significant strain or pressure, for example: "The economic downturn placed "substantial stress" on families.".

What are some alternatives to saying "substantial stress"?

Alternatives include "significant pressure", "considerable strain", or "heavy burden" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "substantial stress" or "a lot of stress"?

"Substantial stress" is more formal and emphasizes the severity of the stress. "A lot of stress" is more informal. The best choice depends on the context and your desired tone.

In what situations is it most appropriate to use the phrase "substantial stress"?

It's appropriate when describing situations where a significant amount of strain or pressure is being experienced, often in professional, academic, or formal contexts.