substantially larger than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially larger than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the size of one object or quantity to another, indicating a significant difference in size. Example: "The new building is substantially larger than the old one, providing more space for the growing team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The crowds were substantially larger than last year.

The New York Times

The contrasts for these pollutants were substantially larger than the estimated contrast in average NO2 (22%).

Atmospheric Environment

It is substantially larger than its nearest rival, controlling about 40 per cent of the market.

Independent

The new study found that soot emissions globally are substantially larger than previously estimated.

Independent

Their share of foreign sales is also substantially larger than GE's.

The Economist

Another is that the value of the deposit is often substantially larger than the amount invested.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Source: CIA factbook Economy Indonesia's GDP (PPP) was estimated at $US1.237 trillion in 2012, substantially larger than Australia's $US986.7 billion.

The Guardian

And the Russian army, which is substantially larger than Chechnya's entire population, has occupied the territory since 1999.

The Guardian - Opinion

needed a fund "substantially" larger than the current pool of $250 billion earmarked for nations in difficulty.

The New York Times

Its 1,300-acre 1,300-acreiginalayoutsigned by the city's parks coriginallyr, Maximilian Kern, is substantially larger than Central Park.

The New York Times - Travel

The religion gap, they said, had become "substantially larger than the widely discussed 'gender gap"' that has favored Democrats.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially larger than" to clearly convey a significant size difference, avoiding ambiguity in comparative descriptions.

Common error

Avoid weakening the impact of "substantially larger than" by pairing it with other vague quantifiers (e.g., "somewhat substantially larger"). Choose concise, impactful wording.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially larger than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to describe the relative size of one entity compared to another, indicating that the first entity exceeds the second in size by a significant amount. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

38%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially larger than" is a grammatically correct and frequently used comparative phrase that denotes a significant difference in size. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, as evidenced by the numerous examples. While suitable for various registers, it leans towards formality, making it appropriate for professional and academic discourse. When using this phrase, ensure that the comparison is clear and the context justifies the emphasis on the size difference. Consider alternatives like "considerably bigger than" or "significantly greater than" for slight variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably bigger than

Replaces "substantially" with "considerably" and "larger" with "bigger", slightly altering the emphasis.

significantly greater than

Substitutes "substantially larger" with "significantly greater", focusing on the magnitude of difference.

markedly bigger than

Uses "markedly" instead of "substantially", highlighting the noticeable difference in size.

appreciably greater than

Replaces "substantially larger" with "appreciably greater", implying a noticeable increase.

noticeably bigger than

Emphasizes the ease with which the size difference can be observed.

vastly larger than

Emphasizes the extreme difference in size or scale.

much bigger than

A more informal way of expressing a significant size difference.

considerably more extensive than

Changes "larger" to "more extensive", suitable when referring to scope or coverage.

significantly more expansive than

Similar to "considerably more extensive than", focusing on broadness and scope.

substantially in excess of

Replaces "larger than" with "in excess of", useful when dealing with numbers or quantities.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially larger than" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially larger than" to compare the size of two things, indicating a significant difference. For example: "The new office building is "substantially larger than" the previous one."

What is a good alternative to "substantially larger than"?

Alternatives include "considerably bigger than", "significantly greater than", or "markedly bigger than", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "substantially larger than"?

Use "substantially larger than" when you want to emphasize that one thing is significantly bigger than another, and the difference is noteworthy.

Is "substantially larger than" more formal than "much bigger than"?

Yes, "substantially larger than" is generally considered more formal and suitable for professional or academic writing, while "much bigger than" is more informal.