hold constant

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold constant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something will not change or remain the same. For example: "We must hold constant the temperature of the room to maintain a stable environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

These are hardly impartial groups, but any bias should hold constant within their own polling.

The Economist

While the price of ethanol is currently comparable, it is expected to hold constant as charcoal prices continue to rise.

The New York Times

For all the changes the Senate health care bill portends, at least one thing should hold constant: those ubiquitous "ask your doctor" television advertisements for prescription drugs.

The New York Times

Bert Ely, a banking industry consultant in Virginia, said, "If anything, mortgage rates ought to hold constant or tick down a little bit".

The New York Times

The results show that the effect of basic safety investments on safety performance does not hold constant under different project conditions.

Safety Science

In Experiment 1, we used a yoked design to hold constant the duration of defeat between escapable and inescapable defeat conditions.

Physiology & Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Physicality was held constant.

Personality and Individual Differences

Everything else was held constant.

Harvard Business Review

It isn't; enrollment has held constant.

The New Yorker

All other factors were held constant.

The New York Times - Magazine

All other subject characteristics were held constant.

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conducting experiments or analyses, use "hold constant" to specify which variables are controlled to isolate the effects of others.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all factors can be perfectly controlled; acknowledge potential limitations in your ability to "hold constant" every variable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold constant" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It indicates an action taken to control a variable in a system, study, or experiment, ensuring it remains unchanged. Ludwig highlights its prevalent use in scientific and research contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

29%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold constant" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, especially in scientific and research domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies the act of maintaining a variable at a fixed value to isolate the effects of other variables. While its primary use is in formal contexts, awareness of potential limitations in perfectly controlling variables and exploring alternative expressions can enhance the precision and clarity of your writing. By keeping in mind this guidance, writers can ensure the proper and effective application of the phrase in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep constant

A slight variation, where "keep" replaces "hold" maintaining the same meaning.

keep unchanged

Highlights the lack of alteration, focusing on the end result.

maintain stability

Emphasizes the act of keeping something stable, often against external forces.

set at a fixed value

More explicit about establishing a specific, unchanging level.

preserve invariance

More formal and technical, suggesting a mathematical or scientific context where a property remains the same.

avoid variation

Highlights the act of preventing change or fluctuation.

ensure consistency

Focuses on maintaining uniformity across different instances or conditions.

freeze

Suggests stopping any movement or fluctuation at a specific point.

stabilize

Shorter and more direct, implying an active effort to prevent fluctuations.

fix

Implies setting something at a particular value and not allowing it to vary.

FAQs

How can I use "hold constant" in a sentence?

You can use "hold constant" to indicate that a variable is controlled and not allowed to change during an experiment or analysis. For example, "We will "hold constant" the temperature while varying the pressure".

What does it mean to "hold constant" a variable in research?

To "hold constant" a variable means to keep its value unchanged throughout a study or experiment. This allows researchers to isolate the effects of other variables without the influence of the controlled one.

What are some alternatives to saying "hold constant"?

Alternatives include phrases like "keep unchanged", "maintain stability", or "set at a fixed value", depending on the context.

Is it always possible to perfectly "hold constant" a variable?

In theory, yes, but in practice, it can be challenging to perfectly ""hold constant"" a variable due to limitations in measurement and control. Researchers should acknowledge any potential deviations or limitations in their methods.