a permanent tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a permanent tendency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a consistent or enduring inclination or behavior over time. Example: "The study revealed a permanent tendency among consumers to prefer sustainable products over conventional ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In economics jargon, the UK seems to be suffering from an extreme variant of the Houthakker-Magee effect – named after two economists who discovered in 1969 that price elasticities for imports and exports could diverge substantially, giving rise to a permanent tendency towards current-account imbalance.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He thus suggested that there might be some permanent tendency to high levels of unemployment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The youngest Savoia though, is seen by many as just another pretty face, his pale blue eyes and perfect three-day stubble nicely set off by a few humanizing flaws, like a permanent slouch and a tendency to bite his nails.

The New York Times

Dualistic tendencies remained a permanent undercurrent in the church and determined, to a great extent, the understanding of sin and redemption.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The ESS looks at sleepiness as a permanent trait component, which is evident as the tendency for falling asleep in low-stimulus situations [44].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The gravest danger, however, and what perhaps alarms the majority most, is the tendency to view affirmative action as a permanent program for preferred minorities and, simultaneously, the refusal even to consider it a topic for public discourse.

The New York Times

The stigma manifested in the tendency to believe that mental illness is a permanent condition and those with the condition can never recover makes it hard for them to access financial services such as loans from micro-finance institutions.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

These trends lead to the unavoidable conflict between the continuous tendency of agricultural land reduction and urban expansion that will create a permanent conflict in the first two hypsometric zones.

City, Territory and Architecture

As for men, only the Banská Bystrica Region showed a permanent percentage drop in standardised mortality rate between the observed time periods, while the opposite tendency was indicated in the Košice Region, the Nitra Region, and in the Prešov Region.

Health Economics Review

Up to half the population is in a permanent state of jet lag, they say, a condition exacerbated by poor office lighting and the tendency of office workers to spend their lunchtimes eating flaccid sandwiches while sitting at their desks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hence "tendencies": professionals are careful to use terms for young people that avoid a permanent categorisation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a permanent tendency", ensure that the context clearly supports the idea of a long-lasting or unchanging inclination. Use it to describe fundamental aspects or behaviors that are not easily altered.

Common error

Avoid using "a permanent tendency" for short-term trends or behaviors that are likely to change. Reserve it for describing deeply ingrained patterns or characteristics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a permanent tendency" functions as a noun phrase, describing a sustained or unchanging inclination. As Ludwig AI suggests, it signifies a lasting characteristic or behavior. It often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating what something consistently does or is prone to do.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a permanent tendency" is a noun phrase used to describe a sustained inclination or pattern. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and serves to highlight long-lasting characteristics or behaviors. It's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific domains. While not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively conveys the notion of enduring stability or resistance to change. When using this phrase, make sure that you clearly support the idea of a long-lasting or unchanging inclination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enduring trend

Focuses on the lasting nature of a trend.

a lasting inclination

Emphasizes the persistent nature of an inclination.

a persistent pattern

Highlights the repetitive and unchanging nature of a pattern.

an ingrained habit

Suggests a deeply rooted and difficult-to-change habit.

a fixed disposition

Indicates a firmly established temperament or character.

a chronic inclination

Implies a long-lasting and recurring inclination.

a stable propensity

Highlights the consistent nature of a propensity.

a perpetual inclination

Emphasizes the continuous and never-ending nature of an inclination.

a consistent predisposition

Focuses on the reliable and predictable nature of a predisposition.

an immutable characteristic

Highlights that a trait is unchangeable and permanent.

FAQs

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

Use "a permanent tendency" to describe an enduring inclination or behavior. For instance, "The study revealed "a permanent tendency" among consumers to prefer sustainable products".

What are some alternatives to "a permanent tendency"?

You can use alternatives like "an enduring trend", "a lasting inclination", or "a persistent pattern" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a permanent tendency"?

It's appropriate when describing inclinations, behaviours or patterns that are not easily altered, consider its implications for long-term stability or resistance to change.

Is there a difference between "a permanent tendency" and "a temporary tendency"?

"A permanent tendency" describes a long-lasting inclination, while "a temporary tendency" describes a short-lived one. The key difference lies in the duration and stability of the observed trend.