very substantially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very substantially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a significant degree or extent of something, often in formal or academic contexts. Example: "The new policy will very substantially improve the efficiency of our operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This would detract in a very substantial way from the relevance of U: falsity of the part detracts very substantially from overall truth, and lack of pertinence in the part detracts very substantially from overall pertinence.

SEP

"We are talking very substantially less than this year's final".

Independent

"The bottom line is the studies very substantially confirm the original findings.

The New York Times

And it is not just defendants who can find themselves very substantially out of pocket.

The Guardian

The IT Act thus very substantially lowers the bar for wiretapping.

The New York Times

I think it can have an impact, very substantially, for Northern Ireland.

The Economist

The number of civil servants has, interestingly, dropped very substantially under the Coalition.

Independent

The likelihood of accidents goes down very substantially and therefore the size of the tunnel becomes substantially smaller".

The Guardian - Tech

"We can very substantially alter the course of the epidemic if we scale up interventions rapidly and aggressively".

The New York Times

They are backing the SAB board's view that a £65bn takeover offer "very substantially undervalues" the company.

The Guardian - Business

"People from more advantaged backgrounds," the report found, "had significantly higher levels of extroversion and very substantially higher economic aspirations".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "very substantially", consider the context. Ensure it accurately reflects the degree of change you intend to convey and avoids exaggeration. If a more nuanced term is needed, explore alternatives like "significantly" or "considerably".

Common error

Avoid using "very substantially" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formality can sound unnatural and stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a lot" or "significantly" for better flow and tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very substantially" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier. It intensifies the degree to which an action or state is performed or exists. This is evident in Ludwig's examples, where it modifies verbs and adjectives to indicate a considerable extent or magnitude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very substantially" is an adverbial phrase used to emphasize a significant degree or extent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in formal contexts like news, science, and business. While alternatives exist, "very substantially" offers a specific level of emphasis. When writing, remember to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in informal settings to maintain a natural and appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantially

Omits the intensifier "very", resulting in a slightly weaker emphasis.

quite significantly

Changes the emphasis from degree to importance, suggesting a notable but potentially less quantifiable change.

considerably

More concise and neutral, lacking the intensifier "very".

significantly

Focuses on the importance or impact rather than the magnitude of the change.

to a great extent

More formal and somewhat verbose; emphasizes the degree of influence or impact.

markedly

Highlights the noticeable quality of the change.

appreciably

Implies a noticeable and often measurable change.

noticeably

Focuses on the ease with which the change can be observed.

remarkably

Adds a sense of surprise or wonder to the extent of the change.

to a large degree

More descriptive and less concise, emphasizing the breadth of the change.

FAQs

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

You can use "very substantially" to emphasize a significant degree or extent. For example: "The company's profits increased "very substantially" this quarter."

What are some alternatives to using "very substantially"?

Alternatives include "quite significantly", "considerably", or "significantly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "very" with "substantially"?

While "substantially" already implies a significant amount, adding "very" further intensifies the degree. Whether it's redundant depends on context and desired emphasis, but it's generally acceptable.

What is the difference between "substantially" and "very substantially"?

"Substantially" indicates a considerable amount or degree, while ""very substantially"" amplifies that significance, indicating an even greater extent.