substantially modify

USAGE SUMMARY

"substantially modify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to making significant changes to something. For example, "The organization substantially modified its policy on payment processing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After public comment, however, an F.T.C. official recently told a House subcommittee that the agency would substantially modify the guidelines to account for industry complaints.

The New York Times

President Castro, who took over from his brother Fidel in 2008, was only slightly less expansive, calling on Congress to formally lift the embargo but saying he believed Obama could substantially "modify its use".

The Guardian

Knowledge of result did not substantially modify these effects.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

It can substantially modify how the diffusion proceeds and its outcome.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Conversely, lower doses of crocins (15 30 mg/kg) did not substantially modify animals' behaviour.

Phytomedicine

As a result, the use lithium instead of gasoline for cars would substantially modify the economic equilibrium.

Chemistry Central Journal

These substantially modify the non-patterned films' superconducting properties, providing a washboard-like pinning potential landscape for the vortex motion.

Physica C: Superconductivity and its Applications

Moreover, an additional analysis (not shown) with a different limit of CNR > 5 did not substantially modify the main conclusions regarding detectability.

EJNMMI Research

Warming trends along with land use and land cover change (LULCC) could substantially modify the carbon balance and biodiversity of the Eurasian Steppe.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

As mentioned previously, the ScCO2 treatment may substantially modify the surface chemistry of TiO2 and possibly change the surface wettability accordingly.

Nanoscale Research Letters

They suggest that the land use was not intensive and was not able to substantially modify the natural cover and cyclic renewal of the soils and the vegetation.

Quaternary International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially modify", provide context to clarify the scope and nature of the modification to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially modify" when the change is minor or superficial. Reserve it for situations where the alteration genuinely results in a significant difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially modify" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action taken to change something to a significant degree. As shown by Ludwig, it describes how something is being altered in a meaningful way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially modify" is a versatile phrase used to indicate significant changes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various formal and informal contexts. Usage analysis shows its prevalence in scientific, news, and business domains. When writing, ensure the alteration is genuinely significant to avoid overstating the change. Related phrases like "significantly alter" and "greatly revise" can provide nuanced alternatives, depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly alter

Emphasizes the degree of change is considerable.

greatly revise

Focuses on the act of reviewing and amending something extensively.

extensively change

Highlights the comprehensiveness of the modification.

considerably adjust

Stresses the act of making thoughtful corrections or alterations.

markedly transform

Implies a notable and visible alteration in form or appearance.

fundamentally reshape

Indicates an alteration to the very foundation or structure of something.

radically overhaul

Suggests a complete and drastic renovation or restructuring.

noticeably amend

Implies that the modification is easily observed.

appreciably reform

Highlights improvements that are easily perceived.

materially affect

Focuses on the impact the change has on something.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantially modify" to describe significant alterations. For instance, "The company decided to "substantially modify" its environmental policy to reduce its carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to "substantially modify"?

Alternatives include "significantly alter", "greatly revise", or "extensively change", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "substantially modify" or "slightly modify" when describing a change?

The choice depends on the extent of the change. "Substantially modify" indicates a major change, while "slightly modify" suggests a minor adjustment. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of modification.

What's the difference between "substantially modify" and "completely change"?

"Substantially modify" implies a significant alteration that doesn't necessarily change something entirely. "Completely change", on the other hand, suggests a total transformation. Use "completely change" when the original form is no longer recognizable.