pretty steady

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty steady" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means that something or someone is relatively consistent or stable. Example: Despite the economic downturn, the company's profits have remained pretty steady over the past year. In this example, "pretty steady" is used to describe the stability of the company's profits despite a difficult economic situation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But I'm usually pretty steady.

The New York Times

"It's a pretty steady issue," he said.

The New York Times

"But he actually was pretty steady".

The New York Times - Sports

Your back is agony, and the numbness in your arms is starting to become pretty steady.

The New Yorker

"It's pretty steady — like once a week it's something, some sort of scandal.

The New York Times - Sports

When you sit before her, Ms. Bullock is everything you expect: friendly, witty, pretty, steady, normal.

The New York Times

But most firms have experienced a pretty steady flow in small-cap deals".

The New York Times

The Times is pretty steady too: down from 209,000 to 204,000.

The Guardian

And there has been a pretty steady improvement in refrigerators in just the last 15 years".

The New York Times

"It's pretty steady but scattered somewhat in this country," Mr. Pendleton said.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Many of these are textbooks, for which demand is pretty steady.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty steady" to express a moderate level of stability or consistency, avoiding stronger terms like 'completely stable' when minor fluctuations exist.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty steady" when the situation is fluctuating significantly or showing clear trends. It's best suited for scenarios where changes are minimal and don't disrupt the overall consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty steady" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a state of relative consistency or stability. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty steady" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe a state of relative consistency or stability. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is acceptable for use in writing. Its function is to convey a sense of moderate stability, suggesting that something remains largely unchanged over time, though perhaps with minor variations. This phrase is prevalent in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific writing. When aiming for precise language, consider alternatives such as "relatively stable" or "fairly consistent". However, it's important not to overstate the degree of stability and to avoid using the phrase when significant fluctuations are present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively stable

Emphasizes stability as the primary attribute, using "relatively" to indicate a moderate degree.

fairly consistent

Focuses on consistency rather than steadiness, with "fairly" indicating a reasonable level.

quite consistent

Similar to "fairly consistent", but "quite" can imply a slightly higher degree of consistency.

reasonably constant

Highlights the lack of change over time, using "reasonably" to qualify the constancy.

moderately stable

Directly states stability with a qualifier indicating a medium level of stability.

somewhat uniform

Suggests similarity or evenness across a range, implying a steady state.

largely unchanged

Highlights the lack of alteration, indicating a condition that has remained mostly the same.

generally even

Focuses on the evenness of a condition or process, implying a steady progression.

maintained stability

Highlights the action of actively keeping something stable.

held constant

Emphasizes the holding or maintenance of a constant state over a period.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty steady" to describe something that remains relatively constant or stable over a period. For instance, "The company's revenue has been "relatively steady" despite market fluctuations."

What are some alternatives to "pretty steady"?

Alternatives to "pretty steady" include "fairly consistent", "moderately stable", or "largely unchanged" depending on the specific context.

Is "pretty steady" a formal or informal expression?

"Pretty steady" is generally considered an informal expression suitable for everyday conversation and less formal writing. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "relatively stable" or "fairly consistent".

What's the difference between "pretty steady" and "completely stable"?

"Pretty steady" suggests some minor fluctuations or variations, while "completely stable" implies no change whatsoever. Use "pretty steady" when there's a general consistency, but not a complete absence of change.