still still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "still still" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a poetic or stylistic context to emphasize a state of being unchanged or persistent. Example: "In the quiet of the night, the world felt still still, as if time had paused."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"It was still, still, still," Binford recalls.

The New Yorker

He was so thin, had lost all the weight, and was still, still.

The New Yorker

Willcocks's "Of the Father's Love Begotten, Daviess's "Holly and the Ivy," Luboff's "Still, Still, Still," Rutter's Wexford Carol and other works and traditional carols and hymns; Christopher J. Hatcher, organist; James Bowyer, director.

The New York Times - Arts

BRIAN ROGERS Video still (still!) feels like a novelty item in far too many dance and theater works.

The New York Times

Air France is now the only major airline still still giving primates a one-way ticket to  experimentation and death.

Independent

Fleeing at his father's urging, Loghaman says that more than two years on, he feels imprisoned still, still trapped.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

This framework is generic to be capable of still-to-still, still-to-video and video-to-video matching in real-time.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

—Still... —Still... —He was wrong.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Pataki acknowledges his Spanish is "muy malo, still" -- still very bad.

The New York Times

Remembered still, missed still, loved still.

The New York Times

Still stubborn, still resolute, still guarded.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider if using "still still" adds meaningful emphasis or if a single "still" suffices. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "still still" when a single "still" conveys the intended meaning. Redundancy can make your writing sound awkward or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "still still" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, intending to emphasize the continuation or persistence of a state or action. However, it's non-standard and may be viewed as redundant. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage is questionable from a grammatical perspective.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "still still" is an interesting case of language attempting to add emphasis through repetition. While it appears in some sources, including reputable ones like The New Yorker and The New York Times, its grammatical status is questionable and is generally considered incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that "still still" may be redundant. When writing, you might want to be careful about using it because it's only appropriate in informal contexts. Alternatives like "yet still" or rephrasing for emphasis might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet still

Emphasizes continuation despite an obstacle or contrasting factor. The addition of "yet" highlights the unexpected persistence.

even now

Highlights that something continues up to the present moment, often implying surprise or disbelief.

to this day

Emphasizes the duration and ongoing nature of something up to the present time.

persistently

Focuses on the continuous and determined nature of an action or state.

continuously

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of an action or state over a period of time.

uninterruptedly

Stresses the lack of interruption in an action or state.

remaining

Highlights that something is left as the rest has gone, stressing continuity of what's left.

incessantly

Focuses on the ceaseless nature of something, often implying it's unwanted or overwhelming.

consistently

Highlights the unwavering and regular nature of an action or state.

unwavering

Implies a steadiness, dependability or resolve that has not diminished with time.

FAQs

Is "still still" grammatically correct?

While occasionally used in informal writing for emphasis, "still still" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal English. It's often seen as redundant.

What can I use instead of "still still" to emphasize persistence?

Consider using alternatives like "yet still", "even now", or rephrasing the sentence to highlight the ongoing nature of the situation.

When is it appropriate to use "still still"?

It might be appropriate in informal or creative writing where emphasis is desired, and the context makes the meaning clear. However, it's best to avoid it in formal contexts.

How does "still still" differ from simply using "still"?

The repetition in "still still" aims to add emphasis or highlight the duration of a state or action. However, this repetition is not standard English and may be perceived as redundant. A single "still" is often sufficient.