once consistent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once consistent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was previously reliable or uniform but may no longer be so. Example: "The data was once consistent, but recent changes have led to discrepancies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The announcement was at once consistent and surprising.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Diminishing returns is too hard a term, but there's no doubt that Telltale Games' once-consistent brand of narrative-focused interactive experiences – look, it's hard to just write "games" again, right after the word is in the studio's name – has been suffering from some unreliability of late.

Vice

According to Dr. Hain's theory, this is because their internal models are once again consistent with what is actually happening around them.

The New York Times - Health

Since Citi Field replaced Shea Stadium in 2009, Wright's basic offensive numbers, once remarkably consistent, have begun to veer all over the place.

The New York Times - Sports

If anybody can understand the depth of their excellence, it is Tom Gullikson, the captain of the 1995 United States Davis Cup team, who once achieved consistent success in doubles with his identical twin, Tim.

The New York Times - Sports

He had once enjoyed consistent leads over Mr Abbott as preferred prime minister; the final opinion polls showed both men neck-and-neck.Mr Abbott's big test will be to adapt his combative style to the serious business of government.

The Economist

Once again consistent with the experimental hypothesis, subjects preferred higher rates of graduation when matters were stated in percent terms.

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Once a consistent approach was agreed, CM coded all data.

BMJ Open

Investigators were advised to administer daptomycin 4 mg/kg once daily, consistent with product labeling [ 7].

BMC Infectious Diseases

These findings are once again consistent to previous observations (Herrgard et al., 2003; Milo et al., 2002).

Bioinformatics

19 Once a consistent coding framework is established, transcripts will be coded using NVivo V.9 (QSR International Pty Ltd, Doncaster, Australia) software.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "once consistent", ensure the context clearly indicates what has changed and why the subject is no longer consistent.

Common error

Avoid using "once consistent" when the subject remains consistent; this can confuse the reader. Ensure the phrase accurately reflects a change in the subject's behavior or state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once consistent" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a quality that was true in the past but is no longer applicable. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "once consistent" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, albeit somewhat uncommon. It serves to highlight a past state of reliability or uniformity that has since changed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. When employing "once consistent", ensure clarity in indicating the nature and cause of the shift in consistency. While alternatives such as "formerly reliable" or "previously dependable" offer similar meanings, "once consistent" distinctly emphasizes the temporal aspect of the change. It’s a valuable tool for writers aiming to convey a sense of alteration or decline in reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly reliable

Emphasizes the past reliability but is more formal.

previously dependable

Highlights the past dependability, suggesting a higher degree of trust.

used to be consistent

More explicit about the change in consistency.

at one time consistent

Similar to "used to be consistent" but slightly more emphatic.

once uniformly

Focuses on the uniformity that existed in the past.

formerly stable

Suggests a previous state of stability rather than strict consistency.

in the past consistent

Directly indicates that the consistency was true in the past.

once upon a time consistent

Emphasizes a more distant past, similar to storytelling.

formerly in agreement

Indicates a previous state of agreement rather than consistency.

used to align

More specific to alignment, less about general consistency.

FAQs

How can I use "once consistent" in a sentence?

You can use "once consistent" to describe something that used to be reliable but isn't anymore. For example, "The data was "once consistent", but recent updates have introduced errors".

What are some alternatives to "once consistent"?

Some alternatives include "formerly reliable", "previously dependable", or "used to be consistent" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "once consistent"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and understandable. It indicates a past state of consistency that is no longer present.

What does "once consistent" imply?

"Once consistent" implies that something that used to exhibit reliability or uniformity no longer does, suggesting a change or deterioration in its behavior or state.