that held true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that held true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a statement or belief remained valid or applicable over time. Example: "Despite the changes in the market, the principle that hard work leads to success held true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

That held true this year.

The New York Times

The reporter pushed him, asking if that held true in cases of rape.

The New York Times

That held true in the latest round of interviews with the kids, who are now 18.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both offered simple and elegant generalizations that held true for all living things.

The New York Times - Books

That held true among the men who had entered the study with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The Washington Post

Kyoto is not quite dead, but the certainties that held true when it was forged certainly are.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

And that holds true.

The Guardian

That holds true for any of us.

The New York Times - Sports

Does that hold true for New York?

Cornell University

That holds true among most demographic groups.

The Washington Post

But does that hold true this year?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that held true" to emphasize the enduring validity or applicability of a statement or principle across time or changing circumstances. For example, "The principle of supply and demand held true even during the economic recession."

Common error

Avoid using "that held true" when referring to very short periods or immediate effects. It's best suited for situations where something has remained valid over a noticeable duration. For example, instead of saying "The promise held true for five minutes", consider "The promise was kept for five minutes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that held true" functions as a relative clause, modifying a preceding noun or statement by indicating that it remained valid or applicable over a period of time. The examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts to confirm the continuation of a certain condition or principle.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that held true" is a grammatically correct and commonly used relative clause that signifies the enduring validity or applicability of a statement or principle. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase finds its primary usage in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the timeframe and isn't applied to fleeting or immediate effects. Alternatives like "that remained valid" or "that proved accurate" can be employed for semantic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that remained valid

Focuses on the continued validity of something.

that proved accurate

Highlights the accuracy of something over time.

that stayed consistent

Emphasizes the consistency of something.

that stood the test of time

Indicates something lasted and remained true over a long period.

that continued to apply

Focuses on the ongoing applicability of something.

that was still the case

States that a situation or condition remained unchanged.

that persisted

Highlights the persistence of something over time.

that was still effective

Emphasizes the continued effectiveness of something.

that was always true

Stresses the constant truth of something.

that remained in effect

Indicates that a rule or law was still active.

FAQs

How can I use "that held true" in a sentence?

Use "that held true" to show that something remained valid or applicable over time. For example, "Despite the new evidence, the original hypothesis "that held true"."

What are some alternatives to "that held true"?

You can use alternatives like "that remained valid", "that proved accurate", or "that stayed consistent depending on the context.

Is it better to say "that holds true" or "that held true"?

"That holds true" is present tense, indicating something is currently true. "That held true" is past tense, indicating something was true in the past and may or may not be true now. Choose the tense that matches the time frame you're discussing.

What's the difference between "that held true" and "that proved correct"?

"That held true" suggests continued validity over a period. "That proved correct" simply indicates something was found to be accurate at a specific point.