Cool MateSignificantly vs Substantially
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Significantly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Substantially
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Most formal: Substantially
| Significantly | Substantially | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/səbˈstænʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səbˈstænʃəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | More than a little or in an important way. | A lot or greatly; a significant amount. |
| Example | The results of the study indicated that significantly more people preferred the new product over the old one. | The costs have increased substantially. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | significantly increase, significantly improve, significantly different, significantly affect | substantially increase, substantially improve, substantially higher, substantially lower |
| Antonyms | insignificantly, slightly | slightly, marginally |
| Common mistakes | Using 'significantly' when 'slightly' is more appropriate in context., Confusing 'significantly' with 'significative' which is not commonly used., Placing it incorrectly in a sentence, for example, at the end instead of before the word it modifies. | 'Substantial' is confused with 'substantially.', Using 'substantially' in casual contexts incorrectly., Incorrectly using 'substantially' as an adjective. |
| Usage notes | Use 'significantly' in formal writing or speech to show importance. Avoid in casual conversation unless emphasizing a major point. | Use 'substantially' in formal writing or discussions. It's appropriate for academic, business, or legal contexts but may sound overly complex in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Significantly vs Substantially
What's the difference between Significantly and Substantially?
Significantly: More than a little or in an important way. Substantially: A lot or greatly; a significant amount.
Which is more formal: Significantly and Substantially?
Substantially is the most formal of these.
Are Significantly and Substantially the same CEFR level?
Significantly: B2, Substantially: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Significantly and Substantially interchangeably?
Not always. Significantly and Substantially are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.