have been consistent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been consistent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of reliability or uniformity over a period of time. Example: "Our results have been consistent throughout the last quarter, indicating a stable performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But what's remarkable is that the results also have been consistent — consistently bad.

The Washington Post

Early responses have been consistent.

The New Yorker

"His performances have been consistent.

Independent

That would have been consistent.

The Economist

These numbers have been consistent for decades.

The New York Times

But they have been consistent.

The New York Times

His base hits have been consistent.

The New York Times

"We have been consistent," he said again.

The New York Times

"They have been consistent," Ms. Weingarten said.

The New York Times

His economic policies have been consistent and predictable.

The New York Times

Otherwise Gomes, Deeney and Watson have been consistent.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been consistent" when you want to emphasize that something has shown a stable and predictable pattern over a period. It's effective for describing processes, results, or behaviors that haven't varied significantly.

Common error

Avoid using "have been consistent" with singular subjects. Remember that "have" is a plural form. For a singular subject, use "has been consistent" instead. For example, instead of saying "The policy have been consistent", say "The policy has been consistent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been consistent" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating a state of continuous or repeated behavior or characteristic over a period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes reliability or uniformity over time. It often precedes a noun or noun phrase to specify what has exhibited consistency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been consistent" is a versatile and frequently used verbal phrase to express stability, reliability, or uniformity over a period. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English for describing a continuous state. Its grammatical correctness and broad applicability across various contexts—from news and media to scientific reports—make it a valuable tool for clear and effective communication. While "have been consistent" is suitable for plural subjects, it's crucial to remember using "has been consistent" for singular subjects to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have remained consistent

Emphasizes the continuation of consistency over time.

have always been consistent

Stresses the continuous consistency since the beginning.

have shown consistency

Focuses on the demonstration or evidence of consistent behavior or results.

have consistently been

Reorders the words to emphasize "consistently" before the verb, changing the flow slightly.

have maintained consistency

Highlights the active effort to keep something consistent.

have been uniform

Suggests a lack of variation or change, often in a more literal sense.

have been stable

Indicates a state of equilibrium and resistance to change.

have been predictable

Focuses on the ability to anticipate future behavior or outcomes.

have been reliable

Highlights the trustworthiness and dependability of something.

have followed a pattern

Emphasizes a recurring sequence or arrangement of events or results.

FAQs

How can I use "have been consistent" in a sentence?

You can use "have been consistent" to describe something that has shown a stable pattern over time. For example, "The company's profits "have been consistent" over the past five years".

What are some alternatives to "have been consistent"?

Alternatives include "have remained stable", "have shown uniformity", or "have maintained a pattern", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been consistent" instead of "have been consistent"?

Yes, "has been consistent" is correct for singular subjects, while "have been consistent" is correct for plural subjects or when used with "you", "we", or "they". For example, "The data has been consistent", or "They "have been consistent"".

What's the difference between "have been consistent" and "were consistent"?

"Have been consistent" implies a consistency that started in the past and continues to the present, while "were consistent" refers to a consistency that occurred entirely in the past. For example, "Their efforts "have been consistent" throughout the project" (and still are), versus "Their efforts were consistent during the initial phase" (but may not be now).