a constant tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a constant tendency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a consistent or habitual inclination towards a particular behavior or outcome. Example: "There is a constant tendency among consumers to prefer sustainable products over conventional ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In business organizations that operate with a balance of power form, there is a constant tendency toward imbalance.

Harvard Business Review

Mr. Rivette shows a constant tendency to move backward, to find the ultimate context, and that has often come close to a wish to include, or allude to, the way the whole enterprise is being filmed.

The New York Times

There was a constant tendency to increase the number of musketeers at the expense of pikemen until, by the end of the Thirty Years' War (1618 48), their proportions had become about equal.

Britannica

The presentation of African English is fairly one-dimensional ("The wind is taking them away"), and there is a constant tendency to give facts and figures in an encyclopaedic fashion ("Since the last trip, Margaret had learned that half of all AMS [acute mountain sickness] deaths in the world occurred on Mount Kenya").

The Guardian - Books

As long as they are profitably employed they represent their full amount of cost in the sum of national wealth; and are of their full amount of utility in affording employment, to the population: but with an increasing population and ingenuity always at work, supply must have a constant tendency to increase.

The Economist

In the ipsilateral L4-6 DRG it started to increase later, at 6 dpi, and showed a constant tendency to increase up to 17 dpi).

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The competition, therefore, of 27,000,000 to obtain only the same or a less quantity in exchange for their articles of produce, has had the constant tendency to cause a smaller quantity of sugar to exchange for a larger quantity of goods.

The Economist

A constant difference tendency was observed after the age of about 40 days.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

When the A matrix of PCA coefficients of Eq. (3) is qualitatively observed, the first principal coefficient displays a constant spectral tendency while the second shows exponential or negative logarithm behavior.

Biomedical Optics Express

And so it is that this economy of thought, this economy of effort, which is, according to Mach, the constant tendency of science, is at the same time a source of beauty and a practical advantage.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The relentless erosion of children's freedom has been paralleled by the constant tendency to politicise parenting.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or behaviors, use "a constant tendency" to emphasize that the inclination is persistent and predictable.

Common error

While "a constant tendency" is grammatically correct, avoid overuse in formal contexts. Vary your language with synonyms like "recurring inclination" or "persistent trend" to maintain reader engagement and demonstrate a broader vocabulary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a constant tendency" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a recurring inclination or disposition toward a particular behavior or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this through examples showing how the phrase is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

42%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a constant tendency" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a recurring inclination or trend. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it functions primarily as a noun phrase, suitable for neutral to formal contexts. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in a variety of sources, including News & Media and Science publications, highlighting its versatility. When writing, consider synonyms like "a persistent tendency" or "an ongoing trend" to avoid repetition. The phrase is valuable for analytical and descriptive writing that requires precision in conveying consistent behaviors or patterns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a persistent tendency

Replaces "constant" with "persistent", emphasizing the enduring nature of the tendency.

a continual tendency

Substitutes "constant" with "continual", highlighting the uninterrupted nature of the tendency.

a recurring inclination

Replaces "tendency" with "inclination", a synonym suggesting a leaning or disposition, and uses "recurring" to emphasize repetition.

a habitual inclination

Emphasizes the ingrained nature of the tendency by using "habitual" instead of "constant".

an ongoing trend

Replaces "tendency" with "trend", implying a direction or pattern of change, and "constant" with "ongoing".

a steady drift

Uses "drift" to replace "tendency", suggesting a gradual movement or shift, and "steady" in place of "constant".

a prevailing disposition

Replaces "tendency" with "disposition", focusing on the inherent nature of the inclination, and "constant" with "prevailing".

a consistent pattern

Uses "pattern" to replace "tendency", emphasizing predictability, and "consistent" to replace "constant".

a regular propensity

Substitutes "tendency" with "propensity", indicating a natural inclination, and "constant" with "regular".

a uniform leaning

Replaces "tendency" with "leaning", highlighting a bias or preference, and "constant" with "uniform".

FAQs

How can I use "a constant tendency" in a sentence?

You can use "a constant tendency" to describe a recurring behavior or trend. For example, "There is "a constant tendency" for the stock market to fluctuate during election years".

What phrases are similar to "a constant tendency"?

Similar phrases include "a persistent tendency", "a continual tendency", or "an ongoing trend", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "a constant tendency" or "a frequent tendency"?

While both are grammatically correct, ""a constant tendency"" implies a more predictable and continuous pattern than "a frequent tendency", which simply indicates something that happens often.

How does "a constant tendency" differ from "a habit"?

"A constant tendency" describes a general inclination or direction, while "a habit" refers to a specific, repeated behavior. A habit is more concrete and individualized than a tendency.