noun · neutral
substance
/ˈsʌbstəns/SUB·stance
a material with particular physical characteristics; the essential part or main idea of something
Examples
“The article had style but lacked substance.”
“The police found illegal substances in the car.”
“There is substantial evidence that the plan will work, but the substance of the proposal still needs refinement.”
Band 8 sentence
“The essay was stylish, but without substantive evidence it lacked real substance.”
Collocations
- substance abuse
- lack of substance
- harmful substance
Word family
Common mistakes
much substances→many substances / much substance
in substance of the report→the substance of the report
He substanced his point→He substantiated his point
Say it for a higher band
5thing→6material→7+substance
Synonyms
material
Easily confused
material
“The scientist analysed the material to determine its chemical properties.”
Related words
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In -ance / -ence
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