remain flat

USAGE SUMMARY

"remain flat" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that has not changed in some way. For example: Despite a tumultuous economic climate in recent years, the stock market has remained flat.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Spending will remain flat.

The New York Times

Your wrists will remain flat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

German installations are expected to remain flat.

The New York Times

And so, while more passengers are flying, revenues remain flat.

The Economist

Organizations can remain flat and focus on their core missions.

The New York Times

The Spanish tax agency had anticipated that tax fraud receipts would remain flat.

The New York Times

Pupil premium money for children from poor families will also remain flat.

Independent

Other forecasters are less pessimistic, suggesting that capital spending will merely remain flat.

The Economist

He said spending, which was on a course to grow by $1.8 billion, would remain flat.

The New York Times

Prices are likely to remain flat for the first half of 2013.

The Economist

The company had previously predicted profit to remain flat for the year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remain flat" to indicate a lack of change in numerical or measurable values, such as sales figures or budget allocations.

Common error

Avoid using "remain flat" when there's actually a decrease. "Remain flat" implies no change, while a decline indicates a reduction in value or quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remain flat" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of unchanging condition or absence of increase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It is often used to describe trends or projections, suggesting no growth or decline is expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science & Research

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "remain flat" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to communicate a state of stability or a lack of change, particularly in quantifiable metrics. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral to professional register. When using "remain flat", ensure the context genuinely reflects a lack of change, and avoid confusing it with terms like "decline". Consider alternatives like "stay constant" or "level off" for nuanced meanings. With 66 real-world examples analyzed, this phrase is a reliable tool for expressing stability in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay constant

Focuses on maintaining a consistent level without variation.

hold steady

Emphasizes stability in the face of potential fluctuations.

level off

Suggests a previous change that has now stopped and stabilized.

stabilize

Highlights the act of becoming stable after a period of change.

not increase

Directly states the absence of growth or upward movement.

plateau

Implies reaching a peak and then maintaining that level.

be unchanged

Focuses on the lack of alteration or modification.

show no growth

Explicitly indicates the absence of expansion or development.

maintain level

Emphasizes the action of keeping something at the same point.

go sideways

This alternative expresses the state of not moving forward or progressing, but staying in a state of equilibrium.

FAQs

How to use "remain flat" in a sentence?

You can use "remain flat" to describe a situation where something is expected not to change. For example: "Analysts predict that sales will "remain flat" for the next quarter."

What can I say instead of "remain flat"?

You can use alternatives like "stay constant", "hold steady", or "level off" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "remain flat" or "remains flat"?

"Remain flat" is used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form, while "remains flat" is used with singular subjects. For example: "Prices remain flat" vs. "The budget remains flat."

What's the difference between "remain flat" and "decline"?

"Remain flat" indicates that something stays at the same level without increasing or decreasing, while "decline" means that something decreases or reduces in value.