substantial time

USAGE SUMMARY

"substantial time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a significant amount of time, either in the past, present, or future. For example, "They've spent a substantial amount of time preparing for the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The high-class prostitutes had a very, very substantial time.

The Guardian - Arts

"Tata spends substantial time there, mentoring students on disruptive innovation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The audit turned up many violations, but none that took substantial time to correct.

The New York Times

It will require substantial forces and substantial time to put those forces in place to move.

The New York Times

Students can expect to spend substantial time in work-study placements with local businesses.

The New York Times

Her only substantial time away was four years at Princeton University.

The New York Times

Is a failure more significant and damaging if it costs substantial time and money?

The New York Times

We will devote substantial time to "learning by doing" using statistics software.

Stanford University

Be selective, though, because even productive conflict takes substantial time and effort to manage.

Harvard Business Review

Nearly all of these leaders spent substantial time outside of Iraq.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both Zhang and Doudna devote substantial time and effort to supporting and publicizing CRISPR.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the quantity of time, use "substantial time" to denote a significant amount, especially when the time is used for a particular activity or purpose.

Common error

While "substantial time" is widely acceptable, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider alternatives like "a lot of time" or "plenty of time" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "substantial" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "time". It indicates a significant quantity or duration of time. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

38%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial time" is a commonly used phrase to denote a significant amount of time, suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academia. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the setting and opt for more casual alternatives in informal conversations. Related phrases such as "significant period" or "considerable duration" can add nuance depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appreciable amount of time

This alternative focuses on the quantity of time. Appreciable emphasizes the easiness to perceive the extent of the amount.

significant period

Uses "period" as a synonym for "time", while "significant" stresses the importance of the duration.

lengthy period

Replaces "substantial" with "lengthy", emphasizing the protracted nature of the time.

considerable duration

Replaces "substantial time" by focusing on the length of time; "considerable" emphasizes the noteworthiness of the duration.

protracted duration

Uses "protracted" to highlight that the time is prolonged, potentially longer than expected.

extended timeframe

Replaces "time" with "timeframe", suggesting a set of time parameters; "extended" underlines that this timeframe is longer than usual.

meaningful duration

Replaces "substantial" with "meaningful", underlining that the time has significance or impact.

considerable time investment

This changes the focus to the investment of time, indicating a deliberate allocation of significant time to a task.

significant time commitment

Focuses on the obligation or dedication of time, rather than just the amount of time itself.

major time allocation

Highlights the purposeful allocation of a large amount of time, suggesting a strategic decision.

FAQs

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

Use "substantial time" to indicate a significant amount of time devoted to something. For example: "The project required a "significant time commitment"." or "She dedicated "considerable time" to mastering the skill."

What can I say instead of "substantial time"?

You can use alternatives like "significant period", "considerable duration", or "lengthy period" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "substantial time" or "significant time"?

Both "substantial time" and "significant time" are correct and usable, but "substantial time" often emphasizes the amount of time spent, whereas "significant time" can also highlight the importance or impact of that time.

When is it appropriate to use "substantial time"?

It's appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize that a notable amount of time is involved, whether it's a "considerable time investment", a "lengthy delay", or a "prolonged absence".