substantively better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantively better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two or more things to indicate that one is significantly improved in a meaningful way. Example: "The new software update is substantively better than the previous version, offering enhanced features and improved performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The cons are equally easy: Why lose independence if it does not result in something substantively better.

The New York Times

Ted Kennedy and the Democrats were pushing, essentially, Medicare for all — a substantively better idea that they assumed they'd be able to get enacted after beating the Republicans in the next election.

The New Yorker

The fact is this: healthcare reform, however imperfect, is dramatically and substantively better than no healthcare reform.

Huffington Post

Applying ClinSeK to over a thousand cancer patients demonstrated substantively better performance, in terms of accuracy, runtime and disk storage, for clinical applications than existing variant discovery tools.

Genome Medicine

The patterns indicated that, for most people, overall wellbeing was quite good, with all aspects as similar levels, but there were distinguishable groups with substantively better wellbeing in some domains than others.

BMC Geriatrics

Even though the latter methods e.g. by using chlorpromazine, "Fura" or "Fluo-3" give a substantively better signal [ 31], we considered the AEQ-mutants favourable due to the lack of potential interference and to maintain high selectivity for the magnetic stimuli.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But the 2013 vintage was a substantively different and better kind of speech than its predecessors.

The Guardian - Opinion

As long as that is the case, we will have citizens and leaders like the Ebola fighters with the resolve to work diligently and collaboratively to make things substantively and substantially better in terms of race relations.

Huffington Post

Finally, the evidence base for the effects of these kinds of interventions would be substantively improved by better-conducted and reported primary studies.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Economic focus or not, the moderators and the other Republican campaigns are sure to try to test Mr. Perry to see whether he turns in a better performance, substantively and stylistically.

The New York Times

Substantively, Mr. Bush probably has the better of this argument.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider specifying the domain or area where the improvement is evident to provide context. For example, "substantively better in terms of accuracy".

Common error

While "substantively better" is a valid phrase, it can sound overly formal or academic in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "much better" or "significantly better" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantively better" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. The adverb "substantively" intensifies the adjective "better", indicating a significant or meaningful improvement. As shown in the Ludwig examples, this phrase often compares two options, highlighting the superior one.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

2%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantively better" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a significant improvement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, indicating a formal or neutral register, it's important to consider the audience and context to avoid sounding overly academic in informal settings. When using the phrase, ensure that you can clearly articulate the specific ways in which something is improved. Remember, synonyms like "significantly improved", "materially better", or "markedly superior" can also effectively convey the same meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

materially better

Highlights the tangible and practical improvement.

significantly improved

Focuses on the degree of enhancement or progress.

tangibly improved

Underscores improvements that can be felt or observed in a real sense.

considerably enhanced

Highlights the substantial augmentation or enrichment.

genuinely superior

Emphasizes the authenticity and validity of the improvement.

demonstrably superior

Focuses on the provable and evident superiority.

markedly superior

Emphasizes a noticeable and distinct advantage.

distinctly advantageous

Focuses on the clear and apparent benefit.

appreciably greater

Stresses the noticeable increase in value or amount.

noticeably advanced

Underlines the evident progress or development.

FAQs

How can I use "substantively better" in a sentence?

You can use "substantively better" to indicate a significant improvement. For instance, "The new healthcare reform is "substantively better" than the previous system."

What are some alternatives to "substantively better"?

Alternatives include "significantly improved", "markedly superior", or "materially better", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "substantively better" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "substantively better" leans towards formal language. In informal contexts, consider alternatives like "much better" or "noticeably better".

What's the difference between "substantively better" and "slightly better"?

"Substantively better" indicates a considerable improvement, while "slightly better" suggests only a marginal difference. The choice depends on the degree of improvement you want to convey.