keep constant

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep constant" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean to maintain or not change something. Here is an example sentence: "The scientist was careful to keep the temperature constant throughout the experiment to ensure accurate results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Farmers can no longer keep constant watch over their flocks.

The Economist

In Mode I, it is proposed to keep constant purge rate and compressor powers.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

The average temperature applied to the sensor is modulated to keep constant the average surface potential of the sensing nanostructures.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Hence, if the current trends keep constant without holistic sustainable development measures, severe land use decline will ensue.

Ecological Modelling

But, what we keep constant is v, or in terms of x and y, that's y minus x constant.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A test bench has been purposely designed and built up in order to reach and keep constant all the parameters determining the evaporative condenser heat transfer performance.

Applied Thermal Engineering

By imposing thermostats to keep constant temperatures of the nanoscale thin layers, the initial thermal non-equilibrium between the neighboring layers is established under the vacuum condition.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

The internal swelling ratio may roughly keep constant during coalbed methane recovery when the in situ stress was greater than 5 MPa.

Fuel

An orifice diameter of 350 μm is selected as the optimal value to keep constant superheat at the evaporator outlet for various flow rates and cooling loads.

Applied Thermal Engineering

By mixing with alkali metal fluorides, it is a general trend that inter-ionic distances keep constant, but coordination number of fluorides decreases.

Journal of Fluorine Chemistry

A control strategy based on a simultaneous feedforward feedback scheme has been adopted, the main requirement being to keep constant the average temperature of the secondary fluid.

Progress in Nuclear Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep constant", clearly define what variable or factor you are maintaining without change. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "keep constant" implies absolute immutability. In many real-world scenarios, complete constancy is impossible. Instead, clarify acceptable tolerances or potential minor variations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep constant" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to express the action of maintaining something in an unchanging state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and commonly used phrase. Examples in Ludwig show its application in various contexts, such as scientific experiments and process control.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

19%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep constant" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe maintaining a stable, unchanging condition. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its usage is particularly common in scientific and technical fields, but it also appears in news and general writing. When employing "keep constant", clarity is crucial; explicitly state what you're maintaining. Be aware that complete constancy can be difficult to achieve in practice; therefore, consider specifying acceptable tolerances. For more formal writing, explore alternatives like "maintain stability" or "preserve unchanged".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain stability

Replaces "keep constant" with synonyms emphasizing the act of maintaining a stable condition.

preserve unchanged

Focuses on the aspect of preserving something in an unchanged state rather than simply maintaining it.

hold steady

A more informal alternative, suggesting maintaining a stable position or state.

retain uniformity

Highlights maintaining a consistent or uniform state across something.

ensure consistency

Emphasizes the active effort to guarantee a consistent state.

prevent fluctuation

Shifts the focus to actively preventing changes or fluctuations.

stabilize perpetually

Implies stabilizing for a long time. A bit more emphatic.

avoid variation

Focuses on the avoidance of any changes to a value.

sustain invariance

A more formal way to express maintaining a state of being invariant or unchanging.

invariably preserve

Combining the ideas of invariance and preservation for emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "keep constant" in a scientific context?

In science, "keep constant" often refers to controlling variables in experiments. For example, "To ensure a fair test, we must "maintain the temperature"/ of the solution".

What are some alternatives to "keep constant" in more formal writing?

In formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "maintain stability" or "preserve unchanged" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state what is being kept constant?

While not always grammatically required, explicitly stating what is being kept constant enhances clarity. For instance, instead of saying "We need to keep constant", specify "We need to "keep the pressure constant"".

What's the difference between "keep constant" and "remain constant"?

"Keep constant" implies an active effort to maintain stability, whereas "remain constant" suggests a state of stability without necessarily indicating active intervention.