substantially better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially better" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a significant improvement or enhancement in comparison to something else. Example: "The new software update has made the application substantially better, with faster load times and improved user interface."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They received substantially better scores when "male".

The Guardian

Still very high, but substantially better.

The Guardian

"None of us are substantially better than our opponents.

The New York Times - Sports

The online halls also offer substantially better rates.

The New York Times - Tech

I believe a substantially better world is achievable.

The Guardian - Opinion

All have gotten substantially better during the period shown.

The New York Times

It was substantially better but still pricey across the street.

The New York Times

Younger folk in Finland do substantially better than their elders.

The Economist

The crowd was significantly smaller than last year, but the park was substantially better.

The New York Times - Sports

'We're selling at a level that is substantially better for October and early November".

The New York Times

Since late last year, they said, the economy has performed substantially better than anticipated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially better", quantify the improvement whenever possible to provide concrete evidence of the enhancement. For example, instead of saying "The new design is substantially better", specify "The new design reduces loading times by 40%, making it substantially better".

Common error

Avoid using "substantially better" when the difference is only marginal. Reserve this phrase for situations where the improvement is truly significant and easily noticeable. Using it for minor enhancements can weaken your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially better" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or situation. It indicates that something is not just improved, but significantly so. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially better" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase that denotes a significant degree of improvement. As shown by Ludwig, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, from formal news reports to informal conversations. The phrase is most commonly found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, and while some might mistakenly use "substantially well", the correct form remains "substantially better". When employing this phrase, aim to quantify the improvement whenever possible to provide concrete evidence of the enhancement and avoid overstating the degree of improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably superior

Replaces "better" with "superior" emphasizing a higher degree of quality or performance and "substantially" with "considerably", indicating a notable amount.

significantly improved

Focuses on the action of improving rather than the state of being better, replacing "substantially" with "significantly" to denote a noteworthy change.

markedly enhanced

Emphasizes the enhancement aspect, replacing "better" with "enhanced" and "substantially" with "markedly", suggesting a noticeable improvement.

noticeably advanced

Highlights the progression or advancement, using "advanced" instead of "better" and "noticeably" for a clear, perceptible difference.

distinctly advantageous

Shifts the focus to the benefits or advantages, replacing "better" with "advantageous" and "substantially" with "distinctly", suggesting a clear benefit.

vastly superior

Uses "vastly" to intensify the degree of betterness and replaces "better" with "superior" for emphasis on quality.

materially improved

Focuses on the tangible or concrete improvement, replacing "substantially" with "materially" and focusing on the action of improvement.

considerably greater

Shifts the context to quantity or degree, implying that something is not just better, but significantly larger or more.

appreciably enhanced

Highlights the enhancement and replaces "substantially" with "appreciably", suggesting a noticeable or measurable improvement.

remarkably superior

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the improvement, replacing "better" with "superior" and using "remarkably" to denote the noteworthiness.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially better" in a sentence?

Use "substantially better" to describe a significant improvement over a previous state or alternative. For example, "The updated software performs "substantially better" than the older version, with faster processing times and improved user interface."

What are some alternatives to saying "substantially better"?

You can use alternatives such as "significantly improved", "considerably superior", or "markedly enhanced" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "substantially well" instead of "substantially better"?

No, "substantially well" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English. "Substantially better" is the correct way to express a significant improvement.

What's the difference between "better" and "substantially better"?

"Better" indicates a general improvement, while ""substantially better"" indicates a significant or considerable improvement. The addition of "substantially" emphasizes that the improvement is large and noticeable.