Doggedness is the quality of being dogged: that stubborn, steady determination to continue. It is a noun, so you can have doggedness, show doggedness, or win by doggedness rather than by talent or luck. Teachers and sports writers like it because it names grit you can see over a long time, not one brave moment. Though actually it can cut both ways — the same doggedness that finishes a hard job can also keep someone stuck on a bad plan. Built from dogged + -ness.