continuity of purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"continuity of purpose" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically refers to continuing with a similar goal or objective over a long period of time, without changing the purpose. For example: "The company has maintained a continuity of purpose over the last two decades, making them a leader in their field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Collecting and sharing data in a reciprocal fashion as part of a connected learning community supports continued learning, as well as a sense of continuity of purpose for current, emerging, and future leaders of the field.

Harvard University

I think this says something about the continuity of purpose.

The Guardian - Books

But the continuity of purpose, and even of names, was there.

The New Yorker

And yet, despite this continuity of purpose, the teacher question has been answered quite differently in different eras.

The Washington Post

They have repeatedly tried to sabotage this administration's programs, even in places like Bosnia and Kosovo where what is needed is steadiness and continuity of purpose.

The New York Times

The return, by some of today's artists, to certain of the techniques, materials and strate gies of the anatomical model- makers of the past does not signal a continuity of purpose.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It also reminds us how many transfigurations this nation has gone through over time and assures us that through all those changes there is a discernible continuity of political purpose, the same vested interest in independence.

The New York Times

A conservative historian, like Dominic Lieven, would make mincemeat of Papandreou's proposition that Soviet Russia had no continuity of imperial purpose with the tsars; after all, Stalin compared himself to Ivan the Terrible.That does not, of course, mean that Soviet and tsarist imperialism were identical; for one thing their rivals were different.

The Economist

For this purpose, we use the uniform continuity of the function on the interval.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Moreover, those strategies may be useful for other purposes such as preventing inappropriate medication use or continuity of medication use.

BMC Health Services Research

That lends itself to the long-term continuity of policy and purpose that has been the strength of the one-party system.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing organizational strategy or long-term projects, use "continuity of purpose" to emphasize the importance of maintaining a consistent vision and direction over time.

Common error

Avoid using "continuity of purpose" interchangeably with similar terms like "consistency of process" or "continuity of operations". While related, "continuity of purpose" specifically refers to maintaining the same overarching goal, whereas the others refer to processes and functions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continuity of purpose" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig confirms that it is used to describe the sustained and consistent nature of an objective or aim. For example, "... a sense of continuity of purpose for current, emerging, and future leaders of the field."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "continuity of purpose" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It denotes the sustained and consistent nature of an objective over time. While not exceedingly common, its usage spans across news, academic and scientific domains, lending it a formal or neutral register. Ludwig examples illustrate its relevance in contexts concerning leadership, historical analysis and organizational strategy. Related phrases include "consistency of goals" and "steadfastness of aim". A key writing tip is to ensure it's not confused with terms focusing on processes rather than the overarching goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consistency of goals

Focuses on the alignment and uniformity of objectives.

steadfastness of aim

Emphasizes the unwavering nature of the intended objective.

maintenance of objectives

Highlights the act of preserving the defined targets.

adherence to intent

Stresses sticking to the original plan or intention.

sustained focus

Emphasizes continuous attention and concentration on a specific objective.

unwavering dedication

Highlights the commitment without deviation towards a specific goal.

long-term commitment

Focuses on dedication to a cause or goal that spans an extended period.

persistent pursuit

Emphasizes the ongoing and determined effort to achieve a specific objective.

consistent direction

Indicates a stable and unchanging path or course toward an objective.

stable objective

Underlines the unchanging nature of the desired outcome.

FAQs

How to use "continuity of purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "continuity of purpose" to describe a situation where an organization or individual maintains a consistent goal over time. For example, "The company's "consistency of goals" ensured its long-term success."

What can I say instead of "continuity of purpose"?

You can use alternatives like ""consistency of goals"", "steadfastness of aim", or "maintenance of objectives" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "continuity of purpose" or "consistency of purpose"?

Both "continuity of purpose" and "consistency of purpose" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. However, "continuity" emphasizes the unbroken nature of the goal over time, while "consistency" highlights the uniformity of the goal.

What's the difference between "continuity of purpose" and "pursuit of purpose"?

"Continuity of purpose" refers to maintaining the same objective over time, while "persistent pursuit" refers to the active and ongoing effort to achieve a goal. The former focuses on the goal itself, and the latter focuses on the actions taken to achieve it.