substantially outnumber

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially outnumber" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one group or quantity is significantly larger than another. Example: "In the recent survey, women substantially outnumbered men in the responses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Democrats substantially outnumber Republicans, but the state leans Republican in federal races.

The New York Times

Amerasians in the Philippines substantially outnumber those living in neighboring countries, with recent estimates as high as 250,000.

The New York Times

Everyone carries around billions of bacterial cells in their stomach and intestines – some bad, but many good – and these cells substantially outnumber our own human ones.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And there's the fact that legal downloads still substantially outnumber illegal ones.

Forbes

The put/call open interest ratio for BSC sits at 1.52, as puts substantially outnumber calls among near-term options.

Forbes

The resulting nicked/displaced fragments substantially outnumber target DNA and cause the cascade rolling circle amplification (C-RCA) and nicked fragment-induced strand-displacement polymerization (NFDP).

Talanta

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

For the camp in New York, more than 60 musicians and singers enrolled (men substantially outnumbered women, and guitarists substantially outnumbered any other type of player), paying up to $10,000 for six days of camp and recording and $5,000 for a four-day package.

The New York Times - Arts

It is encouraging, too, that women are ever keener to take part: in all five states, female voters substantially outnumbered males.Perhaps most hopeful of all, the first studies of the results show signs of a shift away from identity politics, in which voters lump together by caste or religion to back one of their own.

The Economist

Quantitative analysis reveals an overall trend towards increasing integration, with requests integrating industrial and socio-economic aspects substantially outnumbering those integrating socio-ethical and stakeholder aspects by a 2 to 1 margin.

Research Policy

Len Cutler, director of the Center for the Study of Government and Politics at Siena College, indicated that the seat would be difficult for Gillibrand to hold in 2008, noting Republicans substantially outnumbered Democrats in the district.

Wikipedia

The tactic of continuous forward patrolling was so successful that the advancing force's every move was known to the defenders, but the light horsemen were substantially outnumbered and could not stop the advance.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially outnumber", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being compared. For example, specify the two groups or quantities being contrasted to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially outnumber" without providing specific figures or context. Saying "supporters substantially outnumber opponents" is less effective than "supporters outnumber opponents by a ratio of 3 to 1".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially outnumber" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a significant difference in quantity between two entities. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its application in various contexts, such as describing population demographics or numerical comparisons.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantially outnumber" is a grammatically correct and professionally appropriate phrase used to indicate a significant numerical difference between two entities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, supported by examples across news, science, and general contexts. While alternatives exist, "substantially outnumber" offers a clear and emphatic way to convey numerical superiority. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the groups or quantities being compared to avoid ambiguity. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media and scientific contexts, which further demonstrates its varied use in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatly exceed in number

This alternative emphasizes the act of surpassing in quantity with greater intensity.

far surpass in quantity

This variant highlights the extent of the difference, indicating that the surpassing is considerable.

significantly exceed

It directly emphasizes the substantial nature of the exceeding.

vastly outstrip

This emphasizes the difference in scale or size.

dramatically outnumber

This alternative amplifies the numerical difference with the term dramatically.

considerably exceed

Considerably indicates a notable degree of difference.

tower over

This metaphor suggests a superiority in numbers, like a tower looming over something.

massively outnumber

Adding "massively" intensifies the difference in numbers.

greatly outstrip

Similar to "vastly outstrip" but with a different adverb.

dominate in numbers

This expresses a clear numerical superiority, suggesting that one group has a controlling presence.

FAQs

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

Use "substantially outnumber" to indicate that one group or quantity is significantly larger than another. For example, "In this region, birds "substantially outnumber" mammals".

What are some alternatives to "substantially outnumber"?

You can use alternatives like "greatly exceed in number", "far surpass in quantity", or "significantly exceed" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "substantially outnumber" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantially outnumber" is appropriate for formal writing as it is a clear and professional way to express a significant numerical difference. News & Media and Science, for example, commonly employ the expression.

What's the difference between "substantially outnumber" and simply "outnumber"?

"Outnumber" means that one group is larger than another, while ""substantially outnumber"" emphasizes that the difference is significant or considerable. The addition of "substantially" adds emphasis to the degree of difference.