Cool MateConsistently vs Steadily
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consistently
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Steadily
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
| Consistently | Steadily | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsɪstəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsɪstəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | doing something in the same way over time | Doing something in a consistent and regular way. |
| Example | Her work has been of a consistently high standard. | The company's exports have been increasing steadily. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | perform consistently, think consistently, act consistently | grow steadily, progress steadily, increase steadily, work steadily |
| Antonyms | inconsistently, irregularly, sporadically, erratically | 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'. | 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 '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. |
Frequently asked questions: Consistently vs Steadily
What's the difference between Consistently and Steadily?
Consistently: doing something in the same way over time Steadily: Doing something in a consistent and regular way.
Are Consistently and Steadily the same CEFR level?
Consistently: B2, Steadily: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Consistently and Steadily?
Consistently: adverb, Steadily: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Consistently: Her work has been of a consistently high standard. Steadily: The company's exports have been increasing steadily.
Can I use Consistently and Steadily interchangeably?
Not always. Consistently 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.