substantially different from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially different from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a significant difference between two or more items, concepts, or situations. Example: "The new policy is substantially different from the previous one, leading to various changes in implementation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That operating system is substantially different from Apple's.

The New York Times - Tech

In the Senate, Democrats are working on a separate bill substantially different from the House proposals.

The New York Times

And it's luck that animates his novel, which is substantially different from the film.

The New York Times - Arts

Or to make one that looks substantially different from all the others.

The New York Times - Arts

The sound that comes off Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards's shoes is substantially different from Dorrance's.

The New Yorker

The assessment of the Soviet economy last year was not substantially different from Moscow's own.

The New York Times

Romney's 2011 returns are substantially different from the estimate his campaign provided in January.

The Washington Post

In fact, Engadget says the device is not substantially different from Verizon's Droid.

MIT Technology Review

The construction of low-speed synchronous generators is substantially different from that of high-speed units.

Britannica

Creating testing environments that are substantially different from the real environment.

Harvard Business Review

Pictures at the bottom of the bill offered diversions that were substantially different from the movies they supported.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially different from" to highlight significant and impactful distinctions, ensuring the context supports the degree of difference you're emphasizing.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially different from" when describing minor variations or negligible changes, as this can exaggerate the actual degree of difference and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially different from" functions as a prepositional phrase used to modify nouns or pronouns, indicating a significant level of dissimilarity. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, this phrase often highlights key distinctions between compared entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially different from" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to emphasize significant differences between two or more entities. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability across diverse contexts, especially in news, scientific, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the differences being highlighted are truly substantial to avoid overstating minor variations. The phrase conveys a greater degree of difference than alternatives like "slightly different from", and is generally preferred over the variant "substantially different than" in formal contexts. The available examples on Ludwig underscore the phrase's versatility in accurately depicting marked distinctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

markedly dissimilar to

Emphasizes the noticeable contrast or unlikeness between two things.

significantly distinct from

Highlights a notable divergence or separation.

considerably divergent from

Indicates a substantial deviation or departure.

appreciably unlike

Suggests a perceptible degree of difference.

noticeably contrasted with

Focuses on the easily observed distinctions.

materially varied from

Indicates differences that affect the outcome or substance.

radically altered from

Implies a fundamental or extreme transformation.

greatly diverged from

Shows a large change in the direction.

vastly dissimilar to

Indicates the items are enormously different.

widely separated from

Suggests the items have completely different characteristics.

FAQs

How to use "substantially different from" in a sentence?

Use "substantially different from" to compare two or more things that have noteworthy differences. For example, "The new model is substantially different from the previous version".

What can I say instead of "substantially different from"?

You can use alternatives like "markedly dissimilar to", "significantly distinct from", or "considerably divergent from" depending on the context.

Is it OK to use "substantially different than"?

While "substantially different than" is sometimes used, "substantially different from" is generally preferred in formal writing. "Different from" is the more widely accepted and grammatically sound option.

What's the difference between "slightly different from" and "substantially different from"?

"Slightly different from" indicates a minor variation, whereas "substantially different from" indicates a significant and noteworthy divergence. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you wish to convey.