a steady foundation

USAGE SUMMARY

"a steady foundation" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used as an analogy for a situation that needs a solid and reliable basis in order to ensure success. For example, "Without a steady foundation, the company cannot move forward with its plans for expansion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Fatboi produced three songs on "The State vs. Radric Davis" including the single "Wasted," featuring Plies, which is a thorough distillation of the modern Atlanta sound — a steady foundation of strings building and receding, squirrelly synths jabbing in and out, abrupt coughs of drum-machine snares giving the song shape.

The New York Times - Arts

Once a steady foundation is established, Dill says assessment and collaboration are the keys to evolving.

TechCrunch

It's taken Yottaa a long time to get to a place where the team (and Wei) feel like they've developed a steady foundation on which to work.

TechCrunch

Because many of Shakespeare's own words are retained, these works should provide a steady foundation for approaching his plays firsthand.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Start by recognizing that your role in the song is to maintain a steady rhythmic foundation, solidly define each chord and provide a sense of movement.

WikiHow

Younger dieters may be impatient with the delay, but more mature seekers of a new regime can see the wisdom in establishing a firm foundation to build a steady lifestyle change.

Huffington Post

A firm foundation was required to steady the mountain, so Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and supported the churning stick on his back.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Machine foundations produce a steady state vibration, for which, wave barriers can be a successful technique to minimize these effects by scattering the generated steady state surface waves.

Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

A steady supply of criminals is the foundation of the economy of large swaths of New York State, which has 70 prisons that employ about 20,000 people as correction officers.

The New York Times

The Open Security Foundation has charted a steady rise in the annual number of database breaches.

Forbes

For Celia, building a solid foundation upheld by a steady job and a lasting romantic partnership grants her peace.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a steady foundation" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly relates to building, growth, or stability. This helps maintain the image's effectiveness and relevance to your message.

Common error

Avoid pushing the "a steady foundation" metaphor too far by assigning unrelated characteristics to it. Keep the focus on stability, reliability, and support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a steady foundation" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It denotes something that provides stability and support, whether literal (like in construction) or figurative (like in personal development). This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, which showcase its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a steady foundation" is a noun phrase used to describe the necessity for a reliable and stable base. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and offers examples from diverse sources, including News & Media and Wiki. While its frequency is relatively rare, the phrase is generally appropriate for neutral to professional contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates stability, growth, or building to maximize clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a solid groundwork

Uses "groundwork" instead of "foundation", implying preparatory work.

a firm footing

Emphasizes stability and balance, using different imagery.

a stable base

Replaces "foundation" with "base", focusing on support.

a reliable platform

Suggests a surface or structure that can be trusted.

a secure understructure

Highlights the hidden support system.

an unshakeable basis

Emphasizes the strength and resilience of the foundation.

a constant bedrock

Uses "bedrock" to convey a sense of fundamental and unchanging support.

a durable substructure

Focuses on the long-lasting nature of the underlying support.

a dependable starting point

Highlights the role of the foundation as a beginning.

a resilient underlayment

Focuses on the ability of the foundation to withstand stress.

FAQs

How can I use "a steady foundation" in a sentence?

You can use "a steady foundation" to describe something that provides stability and support, like "A good education provides "a steady foundation" for future success".

What is a good alternative to "a steady foundation"?

Alternatives to "a steady foundation" include "a solid groundwork", "a firm footing", or "a stable base", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a steady foundation" the same as "a firm foundation"?

While similar, "a steady foundation" emphasizes consistency and reliability, whereas "a firm foundation" focuses on strength and resistance to movement. They are often interchangeable, but the specific context may favor one over the other.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a steady foundation"?

It's appropriate when you want to highlight the importance of having a reliable and stable base for any endeavor, be it a career, a relationship, or a building. It suggests that the subject is well-prepared and unlikely to falter.