things stay the same

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things stay the same" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that certain conditions or situations remain unchanged over time. Example: "Despite the challenges we faced, it seems that things stay the same in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not all things stay the same.

The New York Times - Sports

Some things stay the same.

The New York Times

Tails, things stay the same.

The New York Times

But some things stay the same.

The Guardian - Music

Things change, things stay the same, sometimes all at once.

The New York Times - Sports

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

The Economist

Brits laugh at how things stay the same.

The New Yorker

But the more things change, things stay the same.

The New York Times

So the more things stay the same, the more they change?

The New Yorker

"I think if things stay the same, people will come out and destroy everything".

The New York Times

Maybe some things in Mexico change so that other things stay the same.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "things stay the same" to emphasize a lack of progress or alteration, often when contrasting with expectations of change. For example, "Despite the new management, things stay the same around here."

Common error

Avoid using "things stay the same" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language with alternatives like "the status quo persists" or "the situation remains unchanged" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things stay the same" functions as a statement of fact, indicating that a particular situation, condition, or state of affairs has not changed over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

13%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "things stay the same" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to convey a lack of change or persistence in a given situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While versatile, be mindful of overuse and consider employing synonyms such as "the situation remains unchanged" for variety. When using the phrase, ensure that your context clearly illustrates the expectation of change against the reality of stagnation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

things remain constant

Replaces "stay" with "remain" and "same" with "constant" for a slightly more formal tone.

things don't change

Uses a negative construction to convey the absence of change.

status quo persists

Emphasizes the continuation of the existing state of affairs.

things continue as before

Highlights the continuation of a previous condition.

the situation remains unchanged

Focuses on the lack of alteration in a specific situation.

everything stays as it is

Adds "everything" for a broader scope and rephrases "same" as "as it is".

matters stay the same

Replaces "things" with "matters", suitable for formal contexts.

the more things change, the more they stay the same

Expresses that despite apparent changes, the fundamental nature of things remains constant.

nothing ever changes

Emphasizes a sense of stagnation or lack of progress.

what goes around, comes around

Implies a cyclical nature where actions or situations revert to their initial state.

FAQs

How can I use "things stay the same" in a sentence?

You can use "things stay the same" to indicate a lack of change in a particular situation. For instance, "Even with the new regulations, "things stay the same" in the industry."

What's a more formal way to say "things stay the same"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "the situation remains unchanged" or "the "status quo persists"".

Is it correct to say "things remain the same" instead of "things stay the same"?

Yes, "things remain the same" is a perfectly acceptable and grammatically correct alternative to ""things stay the same"". Both phrases have essentially the same meaning.

How does "the more things change, the more they stay the same" relate to "things stay the same"?

"The more things change, the more they stay the same" is a related idiom that suggests that despite superficial changes, the fundamental nature of a situation "things stay the same" at its core.