Consistently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Consistently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that occur in a uniform or steady manner over time. Example: "She consistently meets her deadlines, demonstrating her strong work ethic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She said: "As Mr Darling consistently explained, he paid for personal tax advice himself.

The Guardian

They consistently ridiculed the leaflets the Israelis dropped.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The secret service would be best served by a transformative and dynamic leader from outside the agency," he concluded, describing such a leader as "someone with a fresh perspective, free from allegiances and without ties to what has consistently been described as a 'good old boys network'".

The Guardian

"As I've said consistently and as the opposition has been advised, we are working with our partners who have announced support and a presence within west Africa, including obviously the US and the UK but other European and Asian partners as well, about what arrangements we could put in place if we were minded to send Australian health workers into west Africa," he said in Brisbane on Sunday.

The Guardian

Few midfielders, meanwhile, can pick out the open man in the box quite as consistently as Goldenballs.

The Guardian - Sport

"Ultimately we are looking to build up a solid foundation of expertise among commissioners so they commissioning can be done expertly and consistently," she says.

The Guardian

Tokyo has consistently defended the practice of eating whalemeat as a culinary tradition.

The Guardian

Pressure has been mounting on Abbott to grant a conscience vote on the issue, but the prime minister has consistently said that the issue will be settled by the Coalition party room.

The Guardian

Within Zapu, Msipa, a Shona-speaker, had consistently advocated amalgamation with Zanu-PF – earning him the ire of Ndebele-speaking colleandes – and was considerably more sympathetic to Zanu-PF and its leader than others in his party.

The Guardian

But we have consistently made clear our grave concerns about the heavy toll of civilian casualties and have called on Israel to exercise restraint, and to find ways to bring this fighting to an end.

The Guardian

"After many fantastic years with the BBC, I'm delighted to be helping to lead the ITV team responsible not just for breaking some of the UK's most significant stories - notably the Jimmy Savile scandal - but also for making the most consistently popular Current Affairs TV programming in the UK," said Giles.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "consistently", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe or conditions under which the consistent behavior occurs, adding precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "consistently" simply to add emphasis. Ensure that its inclusion genuinely contributes to the meaning by highlighting a pattern or regularity. Overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "consistently" primarily functions to modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives, indicating that an action or quality occurs in a uniform and predictable manner. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "consistently" denotes regularity and uniformity, fitting seamlessly into various contexts from news to business. As confirmed by Ludwig, its correct usage lies in emphasizing predictable patterns of actions or qualities. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and ensure it genuinely contributes to the meaning. Consider alternatives like "regularly" or "invariably" for nuanced expression. With a strong presence in authoritative sources like The Guardian, "consistently" proves to be a reliable and widely applicable term in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Invariably

Stresses the lack of exceptions, implying a very high degree of consistency.

Without exception

Emphasizes an absence of deviations or changes, but it's more emphatic.

Regularly

Indicates actions or events occurring at fixed intervals; lacks the sense of unwavering uniformity.

Uniformly

Highlights the sameness in the manner of action or state.

Continually

Highlights the ongoing nature of an action or state, without necessarily stressing uniformity.

Steadily

Indicates a stable and sustained manner, but not always identically.

Routinely

Suggests adherence to a specific routine or pattern.

Repeatedly

Emphasizes multiple occurrences but doesn't necessarily imply uniformity or steadiness.

Habitually

Refers to actions done out of habit or custom, implying a strong pattern.

Always

Indicates occurrence at all times; may lack the nuance of method or process.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "consistently" in a sentence?

Use "consistently" to describe actions or behaviors that occur regularly and uniformly. For example, "The team "consistently met" their deadlines." This indicates a reliable pattern.

What are some good alternatives to "consistently"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "regularly", "invariably", or "repeatedly". Choose the word that best reflects the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "consistently" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, using "consistently" at the beginning of a sentence is grammatically correct. For example: "Consistently, the company exceeded its sales targets." This can be used to emphasize the regularity of the action.

What is the difference between "consistently" and "continuously"?

"Consistently" implies a regular and uniform pattern, while "continuously" suggests an ongoing, uninterrupted action. You perform a task "consistently meeting" deadlines, but a machine might run "continuously without" stopping.