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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
sustain steady
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "sustain steady" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of maintaining a consistent or stable state, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "We need to find a way to sustain steady progress in our project to meet the deadline."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(20)
ensure uniformity
remains status quo
hold constant
preserve consistency
still steady
maintain the status quo
remain steady
leaves steady
remaining steady
remain status quo
become steady
maintain consistency
maintain stability
stay stable
hold firm
preserve the existing situation
hold the line
keep things as they are
stay constant
remain stable
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
7 human-written examples
"Nevertheless, there are important positives for eurozone economic activity and we believe it should be able to sustain steady growth around 0.4% quarter-on-quarter.
News & Media
But if Brazil is able to sustain steady growth without being blown off-course by events elsewhere, the country will look very different in ten years' time.
News & Media
China's leaders vowed Sunday to sustain steady economic development and control investment in fixed assets in 2005, state media said.
News & Media
A detailed experimental investigation on the effect giving rise to the ability to sustain steady state heat fluxes in excess of 10 MW/m2 has not yet been possible and hence the phenomenon is not yet well understood.
In our study area, coastal knickpoints with persistent flow (waterfalls) are uncommon and form only within a small morphological window when 1) drainage basin area is large enough to sustain steady stream discharge, but not large enough to out-compete sea-cliff formation, 2) sea-cliff retreat is rapid, and 3) channel concavity is low so that channel slopes at the coast are high.
Science
For many forest trees, fecundity is several orders of magnitude higher; if an average tree produces 10 000 seeds, its rmax = 9.2, and populations could potentially sustain steady rates of adaptation when the optimum changes as much as ∼0.42 σp per generation, following these assumptions.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
52 human-written examples
In animal tests, this slow-release system sustained steady levels of the compound for one month.
News & Media
"I think there are sustained steady gains here, and I think that's important".
News & Media
The first is that, by some miracle, policymakers stumble on a way to ensure a sustained, steady, non-inflationary recovery.
News & Media
Such a reconnection region would be consistent with quasi-steady convection during a period of sustained, steady southward solar wind magnetic field.
Science
Studies with different antimicrobial medications have shown sustained, steady release from EVA and it is hoped that such a device will prove to be safe and effective in patients with oral opportunistic infections like those associated with HIV/AIDS.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, consider replacing "sustain steady" with alternatives like "maintain a steady state" or "ensure continuous growth". These options provide greater precision and alignment with standard English usage.
Common error
Avoid using "sustain steady" as it can be redundant. "Sustain" already implies maintaining something, and "steady" describes a consistent state. Opt for a single, clear verb or adjective pair to convey the intended meaning.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
3.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "sustain steady" functions as a verb phrase aiming to describe the action of maintaining a consistent state. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning often revolves around maintaining equilibrium or consistent progress.
Frequent in
Science
33%
News & Media
33%
Formal & Business
17%
Less common in
Wiki
17%
Encyclopedias
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "sustain steady" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It attempts to convey the idea of maintaining something consistently. To ensure clarity and accuracy, it's recommended to use alternatives like "maintain a steady state" or "ensure continuous growth", depending on the context. Although the phrase does occur in News & Media and some scientific contexts, its usage should be approached with caution, especially in formal writing. Instead you can use "sustained steady" as exemplified in some results, which is a valid form.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
maintain a steady state
Focuses on maintaining a stable condition, highlighting stability over the action of sustaining.
preserve a consistent level
Emphasizes preserving a certain level, which might refer to quantity, quality, or intensity.
ensure continuous growth
Highlights continuous growth, which might be relevant in contexts where development is expected alongside stability.
uphold a stable rate
Focuses on upholding or maintaining a specific rate, which might be applicable in areas like economics or production.
support a constant pace
Implies providing support for a consistent pace, suitable for describing activities that require continuous effort.
keep a stable rhythm
Focuses on maintaining rhythm, relevant for music, movement, or other cyclical activities.
promote sustained stability
Highlights the action of promoting a prolonged period of stability.
foster continuous equilibrium
Implies nurturing a continuous balance or equilibrium, applicable in various dynamic systems.
secure ongoing consistency
Emphasizes securing a continuous and consistent state, relevant when facing potential disruptions.
enable persistent steadiness
Highlights enabling a lasting state of steadiness, focusing on creating the conditions for stability.
FAQs
What is the best way to rephrase "sustain steady"?
Instead of "sustain steady", you can use more grammatically sound alternatives like "maintain a steady state", "ensure consistent growth", or "support a constant pace", depending on the context.
Is "sustain steady" grammatically correct?
According to linguistic analysis, the phrase "sustain steady" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use alternatives that clearly convey the meaning of maintaining a consistent state.
What does "sustain steady" mean?
While not grammatically perfect, "sustain steady" generally aims to convey the idea of maintaining something in a stable or consistent manner. The specific meaning depends heavily on the context in which it's used.
Are there contexts where "sustain steady" is acceptable?
Although generally considered incorrect, you might encounter "sustain steady" in informal writing or speech. However, for professional or academic writing, it's best to choose a more precise and grammatically correct alternative like "maintain stability" or "ensure uniformity".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
3.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested