have remained quit

[Saki6]

Persons who have remained quit for more than 15 years appear to have the same risk as "never-smokers" for stomach cancer.​

(Fun Facts about Quitting Smoking)​

Is it correct to say "have stayed quit" to mean "have remained quit"?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it is.

It would have saved my time if you'd said it was the 27th fun fact in the list you linked to.

 

[SoothingDave]

Neither of those sounds right to me. When you quit, you quit. It's not an ongoing situation that you can "remain" in.

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree, but it was consistent with the phraseology of the rest of that screed.

 

[Saki6]

What about "Persons who quit smoking more than 15 years ago appear to ..." and "Persons who have never smoked for more than 15 years appear to ..."?

 

[GoesStation]

What about "Persons who quit smoking more than 15 years ago appear to ..." and "Persons who have never smoked for more than 15 years appear to ..."?

The second option works. The first has a different meaning; it refers only to the present.

 

[Phaedrus]

Persons who have remained quit for more than 15 years . . .

Persons who quit more than 15 years ago and who have not relapsed . . .