substantially too low

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially too low" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity, value, or measurement that is significantly below an expected or acceptable level. Example: "The proposed budget for the project is substantially too low to cover all necessary expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Our HPV prevalence estimates (Table 2) may thus be substantially too low at each age.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One problem, Mr. Oostra said, was that prices charged to commercially insured patients at St . Lukes were too low — "substantially below market rates" and, he said, below the cost of providing services.

The New York Times

The frequencies of other classes of TEs were found to be too low to substantially affect the overall TE environment of human genes.

Genome Biology and Evolution

However, the trend in observed incidence rates in Equateur Nord Province had been declining since 2004, and, regardless, the incidence was too low to contribute substantially to the observed 19.5% failure rate.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A several auxiliary and bacterial proteins were also identified (Table 1 and 2), but these proteins varied substantially from patient to patient and their quantities were too low to be detected by subsequent gel electrophoresis with silver staining.

Plosone

In the field survey, we noticed that some caregivers complained that salary was too low, considering their experience and skill levels, which substantially hurts their work enthusiasm.

BMC Health Services Research

Prior to the IFN-γ treatment, CEACAM expression was too low to be detected by Western blotting but this expression increased substantially following IFN-γ treatment and CEACAM1 was the only member of the family that was upregulated (Fig. 3F).

Cellular Microbiology

It was too low.

The New York Times

Still too low.

The New York Times

The roof is too low.

The New Yorker

But Andy Selsberg aims too low.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially too low", ensure that the context clearly defines the expected or required level to which the subject is being compared. This provides clarity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially too low" without a clear reference point. For instance, instead of saying "The budget is substantially too low", specify "The budget is substantially too low to cover essential personnel costs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially too low" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective phrase "too low". It describes the degree to which something is insufficient or below the required level. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially too low" serves to emphatically express that something is significantly below an acceptable or required level. While grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is currently rare. It's versatile enough for use across professional, scientific, and neutral contexts such as news, but ensure that a clear reference point is established for effective communication. Ludwig’s analysis highlights that this expression conveys a critical assessment and calls attention to a notable deficiency, making it useful in situations where emphasis and clarity are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantially deficient

Similar to the original phrase, but focuses specifically on the deficiency.

considerably below

Emphasizes the degree to which something is lower than expected or needed.

significantly inadequate

Highlights the insufficiency or lack of something important.

materially lower

Indicates a significant difference in a measurable quantity.

markedly deficient

Indicates a clear and noticeable shortage or lack.

far from sufficient

Emphasizes the distance between the current state and what is needed.

noticeably insufficient

Focuses on the fact that something is clearly not enough.

appreciably less

Emphasizes that something is smaller or lower to a noticeable degree.

woefully inadequate

Highlights the poor quality and insufficiency of something.

well below par

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate something falling short of expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially too low" in a sentence?

Use "substantially too low" to indicate that a value, amount, or measurement is significantly below an acceptable or expected level. For example, "The initial funding was "substantially too low" to complete the project successfully."

What are some alternatives to saying "substantially too low"?

Alternatives include phrases like "considerably below", "significantly inadequate", or "markedly deficient". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey. Each option offers a slightly different emphasis on the degree or nature of the insufficiency.

Is it better to say "substantially too low" or "significantly too low"?

Both "substantially too low" and "significantly too low" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Substantially" often implies a more considerable difference than "significantly", but the choice often comes down to stylistic preference and the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "substantially too low" in formal writing?

It's appropriate in formal writing when you need to clearly and emphatically state that something falls significantly short of a required or expected level. For instance, in a report: "The projected revenue is "substantially too low" to meet the company's financial goals."