Basic Details
Word: Consistency
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The quality of doing something in the same steady way every time, so that others can rely on it. It can also mean how thick or runny a mixture is.
Synonyms: steadiness, regularity, reliability, uniformity
Antonyms: inconsistency, irregularity
How to Spell Consistency
Syllables: con - sis - ten - cy
Tricky part: The ending is ency, not ancy, because the word grows out of consistent. Many students also blur the second syllable and write sus or ses instead of sis.
Watch out for: consistancy, consistensy, consistentcy
Memory tip: Start from consistent, take off the final t and add cy. The e of consistent stays put, which is why the ending is ency.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her consistency at the nets earned her a place in the school cricket team.
Example 2: Keep stirring the halwa until it has a thick, smooth consistency.
Example 3: The essay lost marks because the tenses kept changing; it needed more consistency.
Fun Fact
Builders check the consistency of fresh concrete with a slump test: a cone of wet concrete is lifted away and they measure how far the heap sinks.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. tendancy 2. frequensy 3. emergancy 4. consistency
a) the number of times something happens in a given period
b) a sudden, dangerous situation that needs quick action
c) the quality of always behaving or performing in the same way
d) a habit of behaving or happening in a particular way
Show answer
c) the quality of always behaving or performing in the same way. Consistency is right; emergency, tendency and frequency all want ency too, and frequency needs a c.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to consistency as used in the sentence:
Customers keep coming back to the bakery for the consistency of its bread, which tastes exactly the same every week.
a) uniformity
b) dependability
c) variation
d) freshness
Show answer
c) variation. Bread that tastes the same each week shows consistency; bread that keeps changing shows variation.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
consisstency
a) n
b) s
c) c
d) t
Show answer
b) s. The two s's in consistency are kept apart by an i, so neither of them is doubled.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A cook says the chutney has the right consistency. She is talking about how ____ it is.
a) old or fresh
b) thick or thin
c) hot or cold
d) salty or sweet
Show answer
b) thick or thin
2. Which word is the adjective that goes with consistency?
a) consistently
b) consisting
c) consisted
d) consistent
Show answer
d) consistent
