substantially fewer

USAGE SUMMARY

"substantially fewer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a decrease in number or amount. For example, "The outbreak resulted in substantially fewer people attending the festival this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There's substantially fewer possibilities to sell black books.

The New York Times - Books

It is therefore not surprising that substantially fewer public assistance recipients attended CUNY.

The New York Times

That's why even growing business are now getting by with substantially fewer employees.

The New York Times

That is substantially fewer than would have been enrolled had there been no shutdown.

The New York Times - Health

With the system on, the authors wrote, "workers reported substantially fewer work-related mucosal, respiratory and overall symptoms".

The New York Times - Health

Kadima won substantially fewer seats than the 44 predicted at its birth under Mr. Sharon in November.

The New York Times

The offensive would probably begin with a "rolling start" of substantially fewer forces, Pentagon and military officials say.

The New York Times

Among those legislators who received reminders about PolitiFact, substantially fewer made statements later that appeared to have been false.

The New York Times

Twitter has substantially fewer users, but it must nevertheless try to convince advertisers that its users are as valuable.

The New York Times

If substantially fewer than 70% of badgers were removed, there would be a risk that the population reduction was insufficient to reduce TB risks to cattle.

The Guardian

While H.P. is selling substantially fewer computers to Facebook than it used to, Mr. Frankovsky credits it for reacting to a trend.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially fewer" when you want to emphasize a significant reduction in number or quantity, making sure the context clearly defines what is being reduced.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially fewer" when the reduction is only slight or marginal. "Substantially" implies a considerable difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially fewer" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, indicating a notable reduction in quantity. It quantifies a decrease, emphasizing that the difference is significant. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially fewer" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote a notable reduction in quantity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it signifies a considerable difference, suitable for various professional environments. Alternatives like "significantly fewer" and "noticeably fewer" can offer nuanced expression, while avoiding its use for marginal reductions ensures precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly fewer

Indicates a considerable reduction, similar to "substantially fewer".

considerably fewer

Emphasizes the reduction as being worthy of consideration.

markedly fewer

Highlights the noticeable or distinct reduction.

noticeably fewer

Focuses on the ease with which the reduction can be observed.

appreciably fewer

Suggests the reduction is large enough to be important or significant.

distinctly fewer

Implies a clear and unambiguous reduction.

far fewer

A more informal way to indicate a large reduction.

much fewer

A simpler and more direct way to indicate a decrease.

a good deal fewer

Indicates a significant, though perhaps less precise, reduction.

a significantly reduced number of

This phrase is a more verbose alternative that can be used to emphasize the reduction.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantially fewer" to indicate a notable decrease in quantity. For example, "Due to the new policy, "substantially fewer" students applied for the scholarship this year."

What's a more formal way to say "substantially fewer"?

A more formal alternative to "substantially fewer" is "significantly fewer". Both phrases indicate a considerable reduction, but "significantly" often suits a more professional tone.

Is there a synonym for "substantially fewer" that implies a more visible change?

Yes, "noticeably fewer" implies that the decrease is easily observed or recognized.

What is the difference between "considerably fewer" and "substantially fewer"?

While both "considerably fewer" and "substantially fewer" indicate a notable decrease, "considerably" emphasizes the amount is worthy of consideration, while "substantially" highlights the significance or importance of the reduction.