a consistent number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a consistent number of' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate a fixed, regular amount. For example: "Over the past few months, the company has seen a consistent number of new customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A consistent number of people involved with these studies got extraordinary sums," he said.

The New York Times

"There is a consistent number of people who have been affected directly because their loved ones have been affected by drug addiction.

The Guardian

"There is a consistent number of unemployed or desperate people who need our help, but recently we have also seen an increase in the number of people in work who are struggling to cope.

The Guardian

It is, understandably, a chicken-and-egg situation: Dayne will not be impressive without a consistent number of rushing attempts, but how can the Giants justify giving him more carries when he is unimpressive in the few carries he receives?

The New York Times - Sports

"Every day a consistent number of plant species that we never met, disappears," noted Mancuso who added that mass extinctions "are never happy events and I suspect that, despite their diversity, even plants don't like to disappear".

The Guardian

"The city's capacity to attract young whites from other places in the nation does allow it to maintain a consistent number of small white households in Manhattan, western Brooklyn and, more recently, western Queens".

The New York Times

A number of recent experiments — notably by Barbara Rolls at Penn State — demonstrated that humans tend to eat a consistent weight of food from day to day, but not necessarily a consistent number of calories.

The New York Times - Magazine

And in the last few years cable providers have made concerted efforts to lock up prime-time programming, especially from the broadcast networks; they say their on-demand libraries need to have a consistent number of episodes, preferably a season's worth for each show, so viewers have enough trust in VOD that they skip the digital video recorder.

The New York Times

It affected immediate management in a consistent number of cases.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

The prevalent ethnicity was English Caucasian, but a consistent number of students had different ethnic and national backgrounds.

European Journal of Futures Research

In a consistent number of patients with PA, this clinical syndrome represents the first sign of a previously undetected adenoma.

Insights into Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a consistent number of" when you want to emphasize the stability or regularity of a quantity over time or across different instances. For example, "The study showed a consistent number of participants reporting improvement."

Common error

Avoid using "a consistent number of" when you actually mean "a large number of" or "a significant number of". The phrase emphasizes stability, not size. For instance, saying "A consistent number of people attended the event" is misleading if attendance fluctuated greatly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a consistent number of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun (usually plural) to indicate that the quantity being referred to remains relatively stable or regular. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes a predictable or maintained amount.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a consistent number of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression that conveys stability or regularity in quantity. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, noting its function to indicate a fixed, regular amount. As per the analysis of the provided data, this phrase is most often found in scientific contexts and news media. While adaptable, it's crucial to employ it when you truly mean 'stable' rather than simply 'large'. Alternatives such as "a steady number of" or "a constant number of" can be used, depending on the desired nuance. Remember, this phrase highlights predictability rather than significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a constant number of

Uses 'constant' instead of 'consistent', indicating that the number remains the same without variation.

a stable number of

Emphasizes the lack of fluctuation or change in the number, suggesting a state of equilibrium.

a steady number of

Replaces 'consistent' with 'steady', implying a stable and unchanging quantity over time.

a regular number of

Replaces 'consistent' with 'regular', conveying that the number occurs at predictable intervals or in a predictable manner.

a fixed number of

Highlights that the number is predetermined and unchanging, emphasizing the absence of variability.

a persistent number of

Substitutes 'consistent' with 'persistent', suggesting that the number remains despite potential changes or disruptions.

a uniform number of

Indicates that the number is the same across different instances or categories, emphasizing sameness and evenness.

a set number of

Implies that the quantity has been predetermined or established in advance.

a predictable number of

Focuses on the ability to forecast or anticipate the quantity, implying a stable pattern.

a maintained number of

Stresses the act of keeping a specific quantity at a certain level.

FAQs

How can I use "a consistent number of" in a sentence?

Use "a consistent number of" to describe a quantity that remains relatively stable or regular over a period or across different instances. For example, "The company has maintained "a consistent number of" employees over the last five years."

What phrases are similar to "a consistent number of"?

Similar phrases include "a steady number of", "a constant number of", or "a stable number of". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "consistent number" or "constant number"?

Both phrases are correct, but "consistent" implies a regular pattern or stability, while "constant" indicates something unchanging. Use "a constant number of" when there's absolutely no variation and "a consistent number of" when there's a relatively steady amount.

What's the difference between "a consistent number of" and "a significant number of"?

"A consistent number of" refers to the stability or regularity of a quantity, whereas "a significant number of" indicates a large or important quantity. For example, you might say "a significant number of students passed the exam," but ""a consistent number of" students attended each lecture."