an ongoing pattern of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an ongoing pattern of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous or repeated behavior, trend, or occurrence over time. Example: "The study revealed an ongoing pattern of increased anxiety among students during exam periods."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"His failure to disclose the Battista mortgage in these documents is consistent with an ongoing pattern of shirking his obligation to repay her," the decision said.

The New York Times

Ms Cáceres's murder fits an ongoing pattern of violence against organizers, activists, and civilians since the 2009 coup deposed Honduras' democratically elected government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before the game, Seton Hall announced the dismissal of the seniors Keon Lawrence and Jamel Jackson for "a violation of team rules and an ongoing pattern of conduct unbecoming of a representative of Seton Hall athletics".

The New York Times - Sports

After reports in the United States about the series, the Anti-Defamation Leagroupa group that combats anti-Semitism and other forms of racism and discrimination, called on Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to protest the airing of what it called the "latest manifestation of an ongoing pattern of anti-Semitic incitement in the Egyptian media".

The New York Times

Will Potter, who analyzes FBI entrapment plots in his book Green is the New Red, says the two incidents are "a reflection of an ongoing pattern of behavior from the FBI of singling out political activists and having a direct influence in creating so-called terrorist plots for the purpose of proclaiming a victory in the war on terrorism".

The Guardian - Opinion

called the latest scam part of an ongoing pattern of fraud and waste that has drained billions of dollars from federal coffers.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

To what extent are they isolated incidents or part of an ongoing pattern?

BMC Women's Health

Canning said the online abuse was an ongoing pattern.

Vice

It's an ongoing pattern, Parsons' father says.

Vice

"material thing," into a basic ontological category without asking whether it is possible that what we common-sensically call a 'thing' might not also ontologically be interpreted in terms of a category from process metaphysics (e.g., as a bundle of activities or, in a Whiteheadian fashion, as ongoing pattern of events).

SEP

(The New York Times took a long look at Toyota's ongoing pattern of slow responses to safety/quality issues, available here).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an ongoing pattern of", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe and scope of the pattern. Be specific about what constitutes the pattern and how it's being observed.

Common error

Don't use "an ongoing pattern of" without providing concrete examples or evidence to support the claim. Vague statements without substantiation weaken the argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an ongoing pattern of" functions as a noun modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, describing a noun by indicating that it exhibits a continuing or repetitive characteristic. It adds detail and context to the noun it modifies, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an ongoing pattern of" is a versatile phrase used to describe continuous or repetitive behaviors and trends. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal writing. While there might be subtle differences between "an ongoing pattern of" and its alternatives like "a continuing trend of", the core meaning remains consistent. When using this phrase, ensure to provide specific examples to avoid vagueness. The phrase exhibits a neutral to formal register and commonly appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a continuing trend of

Replaces 'pattern' with 'trend', emphasizing direction or tendency rather than a repeated sequence.

a persistent series of

Substitutes 'pattern' with 'series', highlighting the sequential nature of events, and 'ongoing' with 'persistent', stressing its enduring quality.

a repeated cycle of

Uses 'cycle' to suggest a recurring sequence and replaces 'ongoing' with 'repeated' to highlight the iterative nature.

a continuous string of

Emphasizes the unbroken nature using 'string', implying a linear sequence with no gaps.

a constant recurrence of

Highlights the repetitive aspect using 'recurrence' and 'constant', stressing the unwavering nature of the pattern.

an established history of

Shifts the focus to the past, emphasizing that the pattern has been present for some time.

a developing habit of

Suggests a behavior that is becoming more ingrained over time.

a consistent history of

Highlights the consistency with “consistent” instead of “ongoing”.

a chronic display of

The use of "chronic" suggests a long-lasting and possibly problematic situation.

a predictable repetition of

This variant highlights the element of predictability in the repeated events.

FAQs

How can I use "an ongoing pattern of" in a sentence?

Use "an ongoing pattern of" to describe a recurring behavior or trend. For example, "The company demonstrated an ongoing pattern of neglecting customer complaints."

What are some alternatives to "an ongoing pattern of"?

You can use alternatives like "a continuing trend of", "a persistent series of", or "a repeated cycle of" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "ongoing pattern" since a pattern implies repetition?

While "pattern" does imply repetition, "ongoing" emphasizes the continuity and current relevance of the pattern, which can be useful for clarity.

What's the difference between "an ongoing pattern of" and "a historical pattern of"?

"An ongoing pattern of" focuses on a current trend, while "a historical pattern of" refers to something that occurred in the past. The former is still happening; the latter is not.