What is substantially? Pronunciation and usage in English

substantially means . Learn how to pronounce and use substantially through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of substantially

substantiallyadverb

/səbˈstanʃəli//səbˈstɑːnʃəli/
Definition & pronunciation of substantially

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "substantially" in English. It's a tricky one! Here's a breakdown, followed by a few audio resources:

1. Syllable by Syllable:

  • Sub-: Pronounced like "sub" as in "subway" – a short, quick "uh" sound.
  • stan-: Pronounced like "stan" as in "stand" – with a slightly elongated 'a' sound.
  • tial-: This is the challenging part. It's pronounced like "tee-al" – the "tee" is a clear "t" sound, and "al" is a short "a" as in "apple."
  • ly: Pronounced like “lee” - a short “i” sound.

Putting it all together, it sounds like: /səbˈstænʃəli/ (This is the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA - representation)

2. A More Descriptive Breakdown:

Think of it like this: “Sub-stan-tee-al-lee”

3. Key Challenges & Tips:

  • The "tial" sound: This is the biggest hurdle. Many people stumble on this. Focus on saying "tee-al" clearly.
  • Stress: The primary stress is on the second syllable: stan-. You want to emphasize the "stan" part more than the "sub" part.
  • Smooth Transitions: Aim for a smooth flow between the syllables. Don’t chop it up.

4. Audio Resources (Highly Recommended!)

To help me tailor the explanation even further, could you tell me:

  • Are you a native English speaker who's having trouble with this word, or are you learning English as a second language?

Usage and examples with the word substantially in English

Let's break down how to use the word "substantially" effectively in English. It's a powerful word that adds a certain weight and nuance to your writing or speech.

1. Core Meaning:

"Substantially" means in a significant way; to a large extent; considerably; markedly. It indicates that something is not just slightly different, but fundamentally different or a major change.

2. Parts of Speech and Usage:

  • Adverb: This is the most common way to use "substantially." It modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

    • Example (modifying a verb): "The company's profits substantially increased this quarter." (Meaning: Profits increased a lot, not just a little.)
    • Example (modifying an adjective): "The damage to the building was substantially severe." (Meaning: The damage was very, very severe.)
    • Example (modifying another adverb): "He spoke substantially longer than I expected." (Meaning: He spoke for a long time - a significant amount of time.)

  • Adjective: You can use "substantial" as an adjective, but it's more common to use "substantially" as an adverb.

    • Example: "They received a substantial offer." (Meaning: A large or significant offer - but consider “substantially” here for a more nuanced feel; it suggests the offer was significantly above expectations).

3. Common Phrases and Constructions:

  • "Substantially increase/decrease/change/improve/worsen": These are very common constructions to convey a significant shift.

    • "The rainfall substantially increased last month."
    • "The project’s budget was substantially decreased."

  • "Substantially affected by": Suggests a major impact.

    • "The new regulations substantially affected the industry."

  • "Substantially different from": Highlights a major difference.

    • “The two versions of the contract are substantially different.”

  • "Substantially more/less": Used for comparisons.

    • “The new model is substantially more fuel-efficient than the old one.”

4. Important Considerations:

  • Quantifiable vs. Qualitative: "Substantially" is strongest when you can quantify the change. Saying something is "substantially better" is less impactful than saying "The test scores improved by 25%, which is substantially better than last year's results."

  • Level of Emphasis: It's a relatively strong word. Don’t overuse it. Consider if "significantly," "considerably," or "greatly" might be more appropriate in some contexts.

  • Formal Tone: “Substantially” lends itself to more formal writing and speech.

5. Examples in Context:

  • Legal: “The evidence presented was substantially inconsistent with the defendant’s testimony.”
  • Business: “The company’s revenue increased substantially following the launch of the new product.”
  • Scientific: “The researchers observed a substantially greater rate of growth in the experimental group.”
  • Everyday: “The storm caused substantial damage to the coastal town.”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing or speaking are you working on? (e.g., academic paper, business report, casual conversation, etc.)
  • Can you provide a sentence or context where you’re considering using “substantially”? I can then offer a more specific suggestion.

Synonyms for the word substantially

Practice with vocabulary substantially

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The company's quarterly profits have increased ______ compared to the previous year, exceeding all expectations.
  2. To ______ manage the project, we need to allocate resources more efficiently and strategically.
  3. After the system upgrade, the processing speed improved ______, reducing waiting times significantly.
  4. Team leaders are expected to communicate progress updates ______ during the daily stand-up meetings.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The proposed changes to the budget will impact departmental spending ______. a) negligibly b) barely c) substantially d) superficially e) marginally

  2. New regulations are expected to ______ reduce carbon emissions in the industry. a) mildly b) insignificantly c) considerably d) slightly e) substantially

  3. The evidence presented ______ supports the conclusion drawn in the report. a) loosely b) partially c) ambiguously d) strongly e) substantially

  4. For optimal project delivery, it is ______ important to adhere to the project timeline. a) optionally b) vaguely c) minimally d) critically e) sporadically

  5. The success of the marketing campaign was ______ attributed to the innovative social media strategy. a) accidentally b) peripherally c) primarily d) incidentally e) randomly

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The recent policy changes have led to a very big improvement in employee morale.
  2. There is a noticeable difference between the old and new versions of the report.
  3. The main challenge facing the company is retaining its top talent.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. substantially
  2. effectively
  3. substantially
  4. frequently

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) substantially
  2. c) considerably, e) substantially
  3. d) strongly, e) substantially
  4. d) critically
  5. c) primarily

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Employee morale has substantially improved due to the recent policy changes.
  2. There is a substantial difference between the old and new versions of the report.
  3. The primary challenge facing the company is retaining its top talent.

Comment ()