taking substantial action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taking substantial action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need for significant measures or steps to be taken in response to a situation or issue. Example: "In order to address the environmental crisis, we must start taking substantial action to reduce our carbon footprint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Faced with the prospect of economic and political turmoil in the event of further conflict, it avoided taking substantial action after it accused Pyongyang of sinking a South Korean ship in which forty-six sailors died in March, and over the years it has put up with the bombing of a civilian airliner, two assassination attempts on the president, and incursions by submarines.

The New Yorker

David Butter explained that in the wake of the devastating terror attacks in Paris, politicians in Washington, Paris, and Moscow are desperate to look like they are taking substantial action against IS.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The success of Paris was largely due to the fact that global awareness, and the level and quality of global consciousness about the existential threat we face from the climate crisis, has risen to a point where nations that were in the bubble could not go home without having taken substantial action – and we need to keep the pressure on.

The Guardian

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other leading scientists have made clear, society needs to take substantial action to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.

Huffington Post

It notes that the Obama administration has taken substantial action to reduce emissions but it also emphasizes that future administrations will have to do their part, saying that  "achieving deep decarbonization will require longer-term and increasingly ambitious policy action".

Los Angeles Times

This affords substantial scope to leverage on the established and developing approaches to the nutrition-related NCDs to address the large global burden of these mental disorders and reinforces the imperative for governments take substantial actions in regards to improving the food environment and consequent population health via policy initiatives.

BMC Psychiatry

The office declined to make the report public on Tuesday, saying it would give the Air Force 30 days to take "substantial" disciplinary action against the officials responsible for retaliating against the workers.

The New York Times

Moreover, in increasingly gridlocked political systems, policymakers may find it progressively harder to take substantial policy action to address sovereign and financial risks.

Huffington Post

Calli Barker Schmidt, director of environmental communications for the National Association of Home Builders, says the home building industry may not be required to take substantial direct action to reduce ozone generation, but any construction moratoriums that may be imposed on counties that don't meet the standards could be costly for her clients.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Society is taking substantial risks by delaying urgent and large-scale action.

The New York Times

It also vowed to take "substantial military actions" to retaliate against joint United States-South Korean military drills, which involved American B-52 bomber sorties over South Korea.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "taking substantial action", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific problem or situation requires action. Avoid vague or general statements.

Common error

Avoid using "taking substantial action" when describing minimal or symbolic gestures. This inflates the perceived impact and undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking substantial action" functions as a verb phrase, where "taking" is the verb, "substantial" is an adjective modifying "action", and "action" is the noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is employed to describe the implementation of significant steps towards addressing a specific issue or goal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking substantial action" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the implementation of significant measures. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, followed by science and formal business settings. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and appropriate for conveying the importance of impactful steps. To enhance clarity, always specify the context and desired outcome when employing this phrase. Remember that overstating minor actions as substantial undermines credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

implementing significant measures

Focuses on the act of implementing, highlighting the execution of the measures more than the action itself.

undertaking considerable efforts

Emphasizes the amount of effort being invested in the action.

initiating decisive steps

Highlights the decisiveness and initiation of the actions.

enacting significant policies

Specifically refers to the enactment of policies as the form of action.

pursuing impactful strategies

Focuses on the strategic aspect and the intended impact of the actions.

adopting vigorous approaches

Stresses the energetic and forceful nature of the methods used.

executing comprehensive plans

Highlights the execution and the all-encompassing nature of the plans.

launching ambitious initiatives

Focuses on the launch and ambitious scope of the initiatives.

advancing transformative agendas

Emphasizes the progressive and transformative quality of the agendas.

effecting sweeping changes

Highlights the broad and extensive nature of the changes being made.

FAQs

What does "taking substantial action" mean?

It signifies implementing significant, impactful steps to address a problem or achieve a goal, going beyond superficial or minor measures.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "taking substantial action"?

Use it when describing situations where serious, meaningful steps are being or need to be taken, as opposed to token efforts. It's appropriate when "implementing significant measures" to achieve a tangible effect.

What are some alternatives to "taking substantial action"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "undertaking considerable efforts", "initiating decisive steps", or "enacting significant policies".

Is "taking substantial action" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for professional, news, or academic contexts. More informal situations might call for simpler language.