remained flat

USAGE SUMMARY

"remained flat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not changed or grown. For example, "He expected the company's growth rate to increase, but it remained flat throughout the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His expression remained flat.

The New Yorker

Subscription revenues remained flat.

The New York Times

The ratings remained flat.

The New York Times

Reimbursements remained flat.

The New York Times

Then it remained flat.

The New York Times

Corporate borrowing has remained flat.

The Economist

Achievement test scores remained flat.

The Washington Post

But he concurred that prices remained flat.

The New York Times

However, exports of services have remained flat.

The Guardian - Business

Circulation revenues remained flat at €258.5m.

The Guardian

But reading scores remained flat or dropped.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remained flat" to clearly and concisely indicate that a metric, value, or condition has not changed over a specific period. This is particularly useful in reports, analyses, and summaries where conveying stability is important.

Common error

Avoid using "remained flat" when there's been even a minor decrease. "Remained flat" strictly means no change, so even a slight decline requires different wording like "declined slightly" or "saw a marginal decrease."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained flat" functions as a predicate, typically following a subject to describe its state of unchanging condition over a period. It indicates a lack of increase or decrease in a measurable quantity or abstract concept. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "remained flat" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a state of no change. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is acceptable in various contexts, with a high prevalence in news, scientific, and formal business communications. The phrase serves to convey stability or a lack of growth or decline in a specific metric or condition. When using this phrase, ensure that the context truly reflects a complete absence of change to avoid misinterpretation. While it is a common expression, alternatives like "stayed constant" or "did not change" can be used for variety. "Remained flat" is valuable for clearly indicating stability in diverse forms of reporting and analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stayed constant

Replaces "remained" with "stayed" and "flat" with "constant", both implying no change.

did not change

Uses a negative construction to express the same idea of no alteration.

held steady

Replaces "remained flat" with a more concise idiom indicating stability.

stabilized

Focuses on the act of becoming stable and unchanging.

levelled off

Implies a previous increase that has now stopped, resulting in a flat line.

plateaued

Similar to "levelled off", but often used in the context of progress or performance.

showed no growth

Directly states the absence of growth, emphasizing the lack of increase.

experienced no change

Highlights the absence of any alteration or modification.

maintained the same level

Emphasizes the act of keeping something at a consistent value.

was unchanged

A passive construction that indicates a lack of modification or alteration.

FAQs

How can I use "remained flat" in a sentence?

You can use "remained flat" to describe something that hasn't changed over time. For example: "Despite the marketing campaign, sales "remained flat" this quarter.".

What are some alternatives to saying "remained flat"?

Alternatives include "stayed constant", "did not change", or "held steady". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "remained flatlined"?

While "flatlined" implies a complete lack of activity, adding "remained" is redundant. It's better to simply say "flatlined" or use "remained flat" to describe a state of no change.

What's the difference between "remained flat" and "slightly increased"?

"Remained flat" means there was no change, whereas "slightly increased" indicates a small positive change. They are opposites, describing different trends.