constancy

USAGE SUMMARY

"constancy" is a perfectly good word in English.
It is commonly used to refer to a steady, uniform state. For example: "The constancy of the quality of the products produced by our factory is what sets us apart from our competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(A colleague of your correspondent's noted the constancy of this display on Twitter).The marketers won this round.

The Economist

"The biggest devil is me .Through it all, there remained an anodyne constancy about the songs.

The Economist

But he was always distrusted by the PQ's "purs et durs"—the hardliners who questioned his constancy to the cause.

The Economist

Reconvened in 1926, it hailed the British version as "perfection itself .In this section How to steal an election Spreading the m-word Appservers Hue and cry Squirrel nutcase ReprintsBritain's constancy in colour was unusual.

The Economist

Mr Chubais had himself hoped for two good years of political calm and constancy, so that come Duma elections due in December 1999 and the next presidential race in the summer of 2000 reforms would have become truly irreversible, with Russians even starting to notice their benefits.

The Economist

In a capitalist society investment depends on the animal spirits of entrepreneurs and the constancy of investors, who must commit their funds to uncertain ventures for extended periods.

The Economist

But desirable though chastity and constancy might be (and achievable, too, if the under-15 data are reliable) they cannot do the job alone.

The Economist

But perhaps constancy need not involve active political leadership.

The Economist

Until the early 1980s the relative sizes of those slices were so stable that their constancy became an economic rule of thumb.

The Economist

MY COLLEAGUE responds to Karl Smith (and by extension to my previous post) on the constancy of the long-run growth trend.

The Economist

The sea is comforting in its constancy: "the waves in the dark that strangely console/with their steadiness".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing personal relationships, use "constancy" to emphasize unwavering loyalty and support.

Common error

Avoid using "constancy" when you actually mean high intensity or frequency. "Constancy" implies consistent, stable behavior over time, not necessarily a large amount of something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "constancy" is as a noun. It refers to the quality of being constant, stable, or unchanging. As Ludwig shows, it can describe abstract concepts like loyalty or physical properties like temperature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "constancy" is a widely used noun that denotes the quality of being constant, stable, or unchanging. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. While "constancy" emphasizes unwavering commitment and uniformity, it is important to avoid mistaking it for intensity or frequency. Semantically related alternatives include "steadfastness", "stability", and "uniformity", each carrying subtly different nuances. As demonstrated by Ludwig, mastering the use of "constancy" and understanding its contextual applications can greatly enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steadfastness

Emphasizes unwavering commitment and loyalty.

stability

Focuses on the state of being resistant to change or disruption.

uniformity

Highlights the quality of being the same or consistent.

faithfulness

Specifically relates to loyalty and adherence to promises or commitments.

reliability

Indicates the ability to be depended on or trusted.

dependability

Similar to reliability, highlighting the quality of being trustworthy.

consistency

Stresses the absence of contradiction and adherence to the same principles.

perseverance

Highlights persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

durability

Implies the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.

immutability

Focuses on the quality of being unchangeable over time.

FAQs

How can I use "constancy" in a sentence?

You can use "constancy" to describe a state of unwavering commitment, stability, or uniformity, such as "The sea is comforting in its constancy" or "The experiment required constancy of temperature".

What are some alternatives to the word "constancy"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "steadfastness", "stability", or "uniformity".

Is it correct to say "the constancy of change"?

While seemingly paradoxical, "the constancy of change" can be used to describe situations where change itself is the only constant factor. It emphasizes that alteration and transformation are continually present.

What is the difference between "constancy" and "consistency"?

"Constancy" refers to a state of being unchanging or unwavering over time, while "consistency" refers to adherence to the same principles or course of action. Although similar, "consistency" emphasizes adherence to rules or behaviors, whereas "constancy" focuses on remaining unchanged.