would be substantial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be substantial" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the significance or importance of something in a hypothetical or conditional context. Example: "If we increase our marketing budget, the impact on sales would be substantial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The impact would be substantial.

The Economist

The damage would be substantial.

The New York Times

The oil savings would be substantial.

The New York Times

Costs, Mr. Nazari knew, would be substantial.

The New York Times

But the price would be substantial in Iraqi and American lives.

The New York Times

Beyond the potential scientific accomplishments, the benefits to society and industry would be substantial.

The New York Times

The researchers, writing in Neurology, say the savings in medical costs would be substantial.

The New York Times - Health

Similarly, there would be substantial savings from abandoning plans for HS2.

The Guardian

Every reputable economist and economic institution warned the shock would be substantial.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the petitioner prevailed under these circumstances, the prejudice to the respondent... would be substantial".

The New York Times

There would be substantial consequences in financial markets from such a default on US government debt.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be substantial" when you want to emphasize the significant impact, effect, or amount something could have. It's more formal and impactful than saying "would be big" or "would be a lot".

Common error

While "would be substantial" is a perfectly valid phrase, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "would be a lot" or "would be big" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be substantial" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a potential quality or characteristic. It typically describes the degree, amount, or importance of something that is being considered, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would be substantial" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the potential significance or impact of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, scientific, and formal contexts. While highly effective, remember to consider the tone of your writing and choose simpler alternatives in informal settings. The phrase's strength lies in its ability to convey a notable degree of importance or consequence, making it a valuable tool in professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be considerable

Replaces "substantial" with "considerable", indicating a noteworthy amount or degree.

would be significant

Substitutes "substantial" with "significant", emphasizing the importance or consequence.

would be appreciable

Uses "appreciable" instead of "substantial", suggesting a noticeable or measurable effect.

would be significant in scale

Adds "in scale" to highlight the magnitude or extent of the impact.

would have a large impact

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the "impact", using "large" to convey the magnitude.

would be quite noticeable

Replaces "substantial" with "quite noticeable", suggesting something easily observed.

would be a major factor

Changes the structure to emphasize the role as a "major factor", indicating importance.

would carry considerable weight

Employs a metaphor to convey significance, suggesting influence or importance.

would represent a noteworthy change

Focuses on the "change", highlighting its importance or significance.

would prove to be consequential

Uses "consequential" to emphasize the importance of future outcomes.

FAQs

How can I use "would be substantial" in a sentence?

You can use "would be substantial" to describe a significant impact, cost, or benefit. For example, "The savings "would be substantial" if we switched to renewable energy".

What can I say instead of "would be substantial"?

Alternatives to "would be substantial" include "would be considerable", "would be significant", or "would be appreciable" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "would be substantial" or "will be substantial"?

"Would be substantial" implies a conditional or hypothetical situation, while "will be substantial" indicates a future certainty. Choose the phrase that best reflects the context of your sentence.

What's the difference between "would be substantial" and "could be substantial"?

"Would be substantial" suggests a higher probability or expectation than "could be substantial". "Could be substantial" implies possibility, while "would be substantial" implies a likely outcome under specific conditions.