having a persistent tendency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having a persistent tendency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a consistent or habitual inclination towards a particular behavior or characteristic. Example: "The study revealed that the participants were having a persistent tendency to procrastinate on their assignments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The random variance can be reduced by taking an average of surveys — and if pollsters have a persistent tendency to favor one candidate over another, we can account for that with our house effects adjustment, which is designed to detect and counteract these tendencies.

The New York Times

More broadly, if our economy has a persistent tendency toward depression, we're going to be living under the looking-glass rules of depression economics — in which virtue is vice and prudence is folly, in which attempts to save more (including attempts to reduce budget deficits) make everyone worse off — for a long time.

The New York Times

Many workplace "crises" don't really deserve to be elevated to that level (even though we may have a persistent tendency to!).

Forbes

Over more than 20 years of working with companies on organizational change, we have observed a persistent tendency to believe that women's lagged advancement stems from work-family conflict and that accommodations for women are the solution.

Huffington Post

According to political analyst Mark Halperin, he has shown "a persistent tendency to say silly, offensive, and off-putting things"; The New York Times writes that Biden's "weak filters make him capable of blurting out pretty much anything".

Wikipedia

Adie recommends having a persistent cart.

The Guardian

2. Having a persistent desire to quit or cut down.

The New York Times - Health

(After having trouble getting paid by a couple of the women for his merchandise: "You're worse than freshmen").. Sam, a single mom who has a son about Jonathan's age, has a persistent need to party, a tendency to put the flighty in flight attendant and a darker edge — even a conscience — beneath the cynical surface.

Los Angeles Times

The problem was no longer massive unemployment but a persistent tendency to inflation against a backdrop of fairly rapid economic growth punctuated by short periods of shallow recession.

Britannica

This is why there is a persistent tendency among certain historians to perceive him as a dissimulating Protestant and 'Nicodemite'Nicodemite

SEP

The music had a persistent rhythmic tread.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "having a persistent tendency", ensure that the subject truly exhibits a consistent pattern of behavior. Avoid using it for isolated incidents.

Common error

Avoid using "having a persistent tendency" to describe short-lived or infrequent behaviors. Reserve it for well-established and consistent patterns; otherwise, opt for weaker terms like "having a slight inclination".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having a persistent tendency" functions as a descriptor, often acting as part of a predicate to characterize a subject's consistent inclination or behavior. Ludwig examples show it describing tendencies in people, economies, and even vegetation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having a persistent tendency" is a descriptor phrase used to characterize consistent inclinations or behaviors. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Though its frequency is rare, it is found in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the subject demonstrates a consistent, observable pattern, and consider alternative phrasings to adjust the emphasis as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhibiting a recurring inclination

Changes "having" to "exhibiting", "persistent" to "recurring", and "tendency" to "inclination", focusing on observable behavior.

showing a consistent propensity

Replaces "having" with "showing", "persistent" with "consistent", and "tendency" with "propensity", emphasizing steady behavior.

demonstrating an ongoing inclination

Substitutes "having" for "demonstrating", "persistent" for "ongoing", and "tendency" for "inclination", highlighting continuous behavior.

displaying a habitual inclination

Replaces "having" with "displaying", "persistent" with "habitual", and "tendency" with "inclination", stressing regular behavior.

inclined to consistently

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the inclination to act consistently.

habitually inclined to

Focuses on the habitual nature of the inclination.

regularly predisposed to

Emphasizes a regular predisposition towards something.

prone to consistently

Highlights a consistent proneness towards a behavior.

a constant inclination towards

Rephrases to emphasize a constant inclination.

demonstrates a stable tendency

Changes "having" to "demonstrates" and "persistent" to "stable", focusing on consistent behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "having a persistent tendency" in a sentence?

You can use "having a persistent tendency" to describe someone's habitual behavior or inclination. For example, "The study revealed that the participants were having a persistent tendency to procrastinate on their assignments."

What are some alternatives to "having a persistent tendency"?

You can use alternatives like "exhibiting a recurring inclination", "showing a consistent propensity", or "demonstrating an ongoing inclination" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "having a persistent tendency" or "having a strong tendency"?

The choice depends on the context. "Having a strong tendency" implies a powerful inclination, while "having a persistent tendency" suggests a consistent, ongoing pattern. They are not interchangeable; select the one that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "having a tendency" and "having a persistent tendency"?

"Having a tendency" suggests a general inclination, whereas "having a persistent tendency" emphasizes that the inclination is ongoing and consistent over time. The addition of "persistent" strengthens the sense of habitual behavior.