Cool MateConsiderable vs Not negligible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Considerable
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Not negligible
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Not negligibleMost common: Considerable
| Considerable | Not negligible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsɪdərəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsɪdərəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbl// |
| Meaning | A lot; significant in amount or degree. | Not something you can ignore; important. |
| Example | The project wasted a considerable amount of time and money. | The effects of climate change are not negligible, affecting ecosystems worldwide. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | considerable impact, considerable effort, considerable amount | not negligible difference, not negligible impact, not negligible risk, not negligible amount, not negligible evidence |
| Antonyms | insignificant, minor, inconsequential | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'considering' as a verb instead of 'considerable' as an adjective., Using 'considerable' with uncountable nouns only, instead of also with countable., Omitting it when it can emphasize significant amounts. | Mixing up with 'negligible' and using it in the wrong context., Using 'not negligible' to describe minor issues., Assuming it can be used without context for clarity. |
| Usage notes | Use 'considerable' when discussing something important or substantial. It's appropriate in both written and spoken language, but avoid using it in very casual contexts. | Use 'not negligible' when discussing facts or figures that matter significantly. It's suitable for academic, technical, or formal contexts but may sound overly complex in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Considerable vs Not negligible
What's the difference between Considerable and Not negligible?
Considerable: A lot; significant in amount or degree. Not negligible: Not something you can ignore; important.
Which is more formal: Considerable and Not negligible?
Not negligible is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Considerable and Not negligible?
Considerable is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Considerable: The project wasted a considerable amount of time and money. Not negligible: The effects of climate change are not negligible, affecting ecosystems worldwide.
Can I use Considerable and Not negligible interchangeably?
Not always. Considerable and Not negligible 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.