held steady

USAGE SUMMARY

"held steady" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something has remained constant or unchanged. For example: The price of gold held steady throughout the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the structure held steady.

The Economist

That rate, too, held steady.

The New York Times

Bond prices held steady.

The Washington Post

Subaru held steady.

The New York Times

His gaze held steady.

The New York Times

Confidence in the police has held steady.

The Economist

The stockmarket and currency held steady.

The Economist

MSNBC held steady with 425,000.

The New York Times

The unemployment held steady at 9.7%.

The Economist

The euro held steady against the dollar.

The New York Times

McGwire held steady at 59.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "held steady", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being maintained without significant fluctuation over a defined period.

Common error

Avoid using "held steady" to describe something that fluctuates frequently in short intervals. It's best suited for longer-term stability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held steady" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a state of remaining constant or unchanged. It's used to describe the stability of a subject over time, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples, such as "The unemployment rate held steady at 4.9%."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held steady" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signifies a state of stability or lack of change over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news reporting, academic discussions, and business communications. While alternatives like "remained stable" or "stayed constant" exist, "held steady" provides a concise way to convey the idea of maintained consistency. Ensure clarity by defining the timeframe over which stability is observed. With its widespread use across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist, "held steady" is a reliable choice for describing consistent states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained stable

This alternative emphasizes the lack of significant change over a period.

stayed constant

This option highlights the unchanging nature of the subject being described.

maintained its level

This alternative stresses the active preservation of a certain position or degree.

did not change

A simple and direct way of expressing no alteration.

remained unchanged

Similar to "did not change" but slightly more formal.

kept constant

This highlights the continuation of a consistent state.

stood firm

This implies resistance to change and a strong maintenance of position.

persisted

This suggests continuing to exist or occur over time.

stabilized

Suggests that a previously unstable state has become constant.

evened out

This implies a leveling of previous fluctuations to reach a steady state.

FAQs

How can I use "held steady" in a sentence?

Use "held steady" to describe something that has remained constant or unchanged over a period of time. For example, "The unemployment rate "held steady" at 4.9%."

What are some alternatives to "held steady"?

Alternatives to "held steady" include "remained stable", "stayed constant", and "maintained its level". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "holded steady" instead of "held steady"?

No, "holded" is not the correct past tense of "hold". The correct past tense is "held", so the correct phrase is ""held steady"".

What is the difference between "held steady" and "remained stagnant"?

"Held steady" implies maintaining a stable, often positive, state, while "remained stagnant" suggests a lack of progress or growth, which often carries a negative connotation.