substantiality

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "substantiality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the quality of being large in amount, size, or degree. For example, "The substantiality of her debt made it difficult for her to save money."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Declaring that he could not smile and weep with the multitude, he singled out "substantiality" and "honesty with oneself" as the chief prerequisites of a good writer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With less documentary substantiality, Martin Amis's novels, angled somewhere between scabrous relish and satiric disgust, offer prose that has the lurid energy of a strobe light playing over vistas of urban sleaze, greed, and debasement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Canadian sculptor Robert Murray (1936– ) is notable among other artists working in the monumental stabile form; his lofty curved and folded aluminum sheets, while usually more geometric and less "penetrable" than the stabiles of Calder, nonetheless share the latter's paradoxical blend of lightness and substantiality, motion and stasis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's a wonderful thing, memory, and even more wonderful to dream it back to substantiality on the page.

The New Yorker

Each essay is evaluated for the total impression it creates, and readers are trained to take into account such aspects of essay analysis as complexity of thought, substantiality of development, and facility with language.

The New York Times

The added substantiality makes Mr. Noble's landscape a trifle cruder and more present.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

They are traces of the hosshin's omnipresencing non-substantiality, emptiness as the "primal non-originating" source of these thing-events in their beginningless and endless interrelations.

SEP

Signification then for Kûkai is nothing but differentiation (shabetsu), which is another way of speaking of the non-substantiality, i.e., emptiness, of phenomena.

SEP

So the hosshin in its somaticity designates the ontological ground of all beings but also designates their underlying de-ontologizing (or: me-ontologizing; or even better: anontological) emptiness, their non-substantiality.

SEP

The interrelationship amongst the elements signifies their non-substantiality, i.e. the fact that they are not ontologically independent, and in Buddhist parlance this means "emptiness" (śûnyatâ, kû).

SEP

5th state: "The mind freed from karmic seeds" (batsu gôinju-shin): The state of the pratyeka-buddha, who, masterless on his own, attains insight into the chain of dependent origination to recognize the impermanence, self-less-ness, and non-substantiality of all, thus preventing new karma to arise.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantiality" when you want to emphasize the real, significant, or fundamental nature of something, whether physical or abstract. Ensure the context supports this emphasis on tangible or impactful existence.

Common error

Avoid using "substantiality" in contexts where a simpler term like "importance" or "significance" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where you specifically want to convey a sense of tangible or foundational reality.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "substantiality" is as a noun. It typically functions as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, denoting the state or quality of being substantial. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage as indicated in numerous examples across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantiality" functions as a noun that signifies the quality of being substantial, real, or significant. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness for formal and scientific contexts. The examples showcase its use in emphasizing the realness, significance, or fundamental nature of something, with its register leaning towards formal and academic discourse. While interchangeable with terms like "materiality" and "significance", "substantiality" carries a distinct emphasis on tangible or impactful existence. The key to effective usage lies in reserving it for contexts where this nuanced meaning is truly intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reality

Indicates the state of being real or actual, "substantiality" often implies a significant degree of realness or importance.

materiality

Refers more specifically to the physical substance or tangible nature of something, while "substantiality" can also refer to non-physical substance.

solidity

Focuses on the firmness and stability of an object, while "substantiality" encompasses a broader sense of realness and importance.

tangibility

Emphasizes the ability to be touched or perceived physically, making it less suitable for abstract contexts compared to "substantiality".

weightiness

Implies seriousness and significance, similar to "substantiality" but more metaphorical and less about actual existence.

concreteness

Highlights the specific and definite nature of something, whereas "substantiality" can suggest a more general sense of significance.

importance

Shifts the focus to the significance or value of something, while "substantiality" emphasizes its fundamental existence or nature.

genuineness

Highlights the authenticity and lack of artificiality, "substantiality" suggests inherent value or impact.

significance

Similar to importance but can refer to something's meaning, but "substantiality" points more towards physical or fundamental existence.

essence

Focuses on the intrinsic nature or core of something, while "substantiality" relates more to its observable or measurable qualities.

FAQs

How can I use "substantiality" in a sentence?

You can use "substantiality" to describe the quality of being substantial or having real importance, for example, "The "substantiality of" the evidence convinced the jury" or "The project lacked "substantiality" and was therefore rejected".

What's a simple way to define "substantiality"?

"Substantiality" refers to the quality of being real, important, or considerable. It suggests that something has a significant presence or impact.

Is "substantiality" the same as "materiality"?

While related, "substantiality" encompasses more than just the physical. Materiality specifically refers to physical substance, whereas "substantiality" can also apply to abstract concepts like the significance of an argument or the depth of a feeling.

What are some synonyms for "substantiality"?

Some synonyms for "substantiality" include "materiality", "solidity", "reality", and "importance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.