But steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "But steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is happening consistently or gradually over time, often in contrast to a previous statement. Example: "The project faced many challenges, but steadily, the team made progress towards their goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, steadily, he watched his home fall apart.

The New Yorker

"The climate is slowly but steadily changing".

The New York Times

The changes come slowly but steadily.

The New York Times - Arts

Time will crawl, but steadily.

The New York Times - Sports

Recognition came slowly but steadily.

The New Yorker

That is changing slowly but steadily.

The New York Times - Science

The birds should brown slowly but steadily.

The New York Times - Food

"It's increasing slowly but steadily," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Rain starts to fall, slowly but steadily.

The New York Times - Travel

Rain is falling pretty lightly but steadily now.

The New York Times

Slowly but steadily, there have been payoffs from this research.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "But steadily", ensure that the subsequent clause clearly demonstrates consistent or gradual progress to maintain logical coherence. The contrast should be evident.

Common error

Avoid using "But steadily" when there's no real contrast to the initial statement. The phrase is effective only when highlighting a consistent positive trend against a backdrop of difficulty or stagnation. Ensure the "but" is genuinely necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "But steadily" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects two clauses, indicating a contrast while emphasizing the consistent and gradual nature of the action or state described in the second clause. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "But steadily" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it introduces a contrast while highlighting consistent, gradual progress. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a variety of settings. When using "But steadily", ensure a clear contrast and demonstration of progress. Alternatives include "however consistently" and "yet gradually", offering nuanced variations in meaning. Remember to avoid misinterpreting the contrast and use "But steadily" only when genuine progress is being highlighted against an opposing situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

However, consistently

Replaces "but" with "however" to emphasize the contrast and "steadily" with "consistently" to focus on the unwavering nature of the action.

Yet, gradually

Uses "yet" instead of "but" for a softer contrast, and replaces "steadily" with "gradually" to highlight the incremental nature of the progression.

Nevertheless, relentlessly

Substitutes "but" with "nevertheless" to offer a stronger sense of concession, while "relentlessly" underscores the persistence despite obstacles.

Nonetheless, surely

Replaces "but" with "nonetheless" for a formal tone, and "steadily" with "surely" to suggest confidence in the progression.

Even so, inexorably

Uses "even so" to indicate that what follows is surprising given what preceded it, and replaces "steadily" with "inexorably" to emphasize the unstoppable nature of the progress.

Notwithstanding, progressively

Employs "notwithstanding" for a formal concession, and "progressively" to emphasize ongoing advancement.

Despite that, uniformly

Replaces "but" with "despite that" to highlight the contrast, and "steadily" with "uniformly" to focus on the consistent manner of the action.

Regardless, constantly

Uses "regardless" to downplay the preceding information and "constantly" to point out how something happens without interruption.

However, without fail

Replaces "but" with "however" to emphasize the contrast and "steadily" with "without fail" to suggest reliability and predictability.

Still, step by step

Uses "still" as a softer contrast to the preceding statement, and substitutes "steadily" with "step by step" to describe a slow process.

FAQs

How can I use "But steadily" in a sentence?

Use "But steadily" to show a contrast where progress is consistent despite challenges. For example, "The project faced many setbacks, "but steadily", the team moved closer to completion."

What are some alternatives to "But steadily"?

You can use alternatives such as "however consistently", "yet gradually", or "nevertheless relentlessly" depending on the context and desired emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "But steadily"?

It is appropriate to use "But steadily" when you want to highlight a contrast between an initial state or challenge and the subsequent consistent progress. It emphasizes resilience and persistence.

Is "But steadily" formal or informal?

"But steadily" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, depending on the specific situation, you might prefer more formal alternatives like "nevertheless relentlessly" or less formal options such as "still step by step".