Cool MateConsistently vs Regularly vs Steadily
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consistently
Regularly
Steadily
| Consistently | Regularly | Steadily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsɪstəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsɪstəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreɡjələli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈreɡjələrli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | doing something in the same way over time | happening often or at the same time each week or month | Doing something in a consistent and regular way. |
| Example | Her work has been of a consistently high standard. | She works out regularly to maintain her fitness. | The company's exports have been increasing steadily. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | perform consistently, think consistently, act consistently | exercise regularly, meet regularly, check emails regularly | grow steadily, progress steadily, increase steadily, work steadily |
| Antonyms | inconsistently, irregularly, sporadically, erratically | irregularly, occasionally | sporadically, intermittently, irregularly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'constant', thinking both mean the same., Using it incorrectly with countable nouns, e.g. 'consistently good results' is correct, but they say 'consistently results'., Omitting it when necessary, e.g. saying 'he is good' instead of 'he is consistently good'. | Using 'regular' instead of 'regularly' incorrectly in sentences., Confusing with 'regularity', which refers to the quality of being regular., Forgetting to place it appropriately in the sentence. | Confusing it with 'steady', which is an adjective., Using it where an adverb isn't needed, like 'He is steadily'., Mixing it up with 'steadfastly', which implies strong commitment. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe actions that are done regularly and without change. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual conversations. | Use 'regularly' to describe activities that happen frequently, like exercise or meetings. It's suitable for writing and conversation but not usually used in very casual slang. Avoid using 'regularly' in contexts of irregular or one-time events. | Use 'steadily' when describing actions that continue over time without interruption. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English but is less suitable for very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consistently vs Regularly vs Steadily
What's the difference between Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily?
Consistently: doing something in the same way over time Regularly: happening often or at the same time each week or month Steadily: Doing something in a consistent and regular way.
Which is more common: Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily?
Regularly is the most common in everyday English.
Are Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily the same CEFR level?
Consistently: B2, Regularly: B1, Steadily: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily?
Consistently: adverb, Regularly: adverb, Steadily: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Consistently: Her work has been of a consistently high standard. Regularly: She works out regularly to maintain her fitness. Steadily: The company's exports have been increasing steadily.
Can I use Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily interchangeably?
Not always. Consistently, Regularly, and Steadily are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.