has held strong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has held strong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has remained resilient or steadfast over a period of time. Example: "Despite the challenges faced, the community has held strong in its commitment to support one another."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

(His restraint has held strong.

The New Yorker

Yet even in the face of digital competition, terrestrial radio has held strong.

The New York Times

In a sport where tradition has held strong — particularly at Wimbledon — the realm of social media is off limits.

The New York Times

His fascination with trains has held strong, and Joedan, who is in the fifth grade, wants to become a train engineer.

The New York Times

Radio consumption has held strong in the Internet age, as people stay plugged in to their favorite stations, particularly while driving.

The New York Times

The Alliance for Audited Media tracks 20 farming magazines in the United States and Canada and their circulation in the last three years has held strong.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Mr. Voinovich had held strong leads in the polls and a huge advantage in money.

The New York Times

The events of 9/11 and more generally the iconic nature of the city have held strong messages with Australians," said Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents.

The New York Times

The book sold nearly 150,000 copies in its first week on the shelves in March and sales have held strong ever since.

The Guardian

The scoreline suggests a dour game of rugby but the endeavour has been fantastic - the defences have held strong though.

BBC

While Japanese culture and national traditions have held strong for decades, the country isn't immune from outside influence.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has held strong" to emphasize the continued resilience or stability of something, particularly in the face of challenges or changing circumstances. For example, "The economy has held strong despite the global recession."

Common error

Avoid using "has held strong" in situations where simple continuation or existence is sufficient. For instance, instead of "The store has held strong since its opening", consider "The store has been open since its opening" if there are no specific challenges to highlight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has held strong" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something has maintained its strength, position, or condition over a period. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammaticaly correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has held strong" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express resilience or stability over time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase follows standard English grammar and is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys the idea of withstanding challenges or maintaining a position. Related phrases like "has remained resilient" or "has stood firm" offer similar meanings, and one should avoid overusing it in overly positive contexts where mere existence is implied. Overall, it's a useful phrase for emphasizing endurance in the face of adversity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has remained resilient

Replaces "held" with "remained" and "strong" with "resilient", emphasizing persistence under pressure.

has stayed firm

Substitutes "held" with "stayed" and "strong" with "firm", suggesting unwavering position.

has stood firm

Replaces "held" with "stood", giving a sense of resistance or defense.

has maintained its strength

Changes the structure to emphasize the act of maintaining power or force.

has persevered

Focuses on the continuation despite difficulties, removing the explicit mention of strength.

has withstood

Implies resistance against something, highlighting the ability to endure.

has kept up

Highlights maintaining a pace or level, rather than inherent strength.

has endured

Focuses solely on lasting through something, often implying hardship.

has resisted

Emphasizes active opposition and prevention of change or force.

has sustained itself

Highlights the ability to continue existing or functioning.

FAQs

How can I use "has held strong" in a sentence?

Use "has held strong" to describe something that has maintained its strength, position, or condition despite challenges. For instance, "The community spirit "has held strong" despite the disaster."

What are some alternatives to "has held strong"?

You can use alternatives like "has remained resilient", "has stayed firm", or "has stood firm" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has held strongly" instead of "has held strong"?

While "strongly" is an adverb, "strong" functions as an adjective in this context, describing the state of being held. "Has held strong" is the correct and more common usage.

What is the difference between "has held strong" and "has maintained strong"?

"Has held strong" implies an inherent quality that has resisted change, while "has maintained strong" suggests an active effort to preserve strength.