Please retain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Please retain" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to ask someone to keep something for a period of time. For example: "Please retain this document for future reference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Please retain on file".

BBC

WE WILL BE BACK THOUGH AND WILL BE BACK MONDAY MAY 20th 2013 Please retain your original tickets, If for any reason you cannot attend, please contact the point of sale from tomorrow morning Monday 15 April.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The company now faces serious challenges, such as successfully developing games like Farmville for mobile platforms; retaining employees who are fleeing the company; and, perhaps most difficult, making games that please and retain.

The New York Times

Their efforts made Mitre the losing pitcher, though he was pleased to retain Girardi's support.

The New York Times - Sports

"We are pleased to retain a sizeable stake in SeeSaw and optimistic for its future".

The Guardian

"Glamour is pleased to retain its position as the best-selling title in the market by 8%, despite being twice the price," he said.

The Guardian

I'm very happy about picking up Red Stripe and pleased we're retaining our 11-year relationship with the Guinness import company".

The New York Times

Despite being unable to make a success of SeeSaw, Arqiva said it remains committed and is "pleased" to be retaining such a sizeable stake.

The Guardian

Her own grace and graciousness and her ability to please her fellow-creatures she retained to the end.

The Guardian

I'm pleased that the CPI will retain the lower threshold of evidence required (in short, evidence of nuisance or annoyance) and will still be heard in the county courts, which are used to dealing with civil law and housing.

The Guardian

If you were a Spool user, please read the instructions on retaining your bookmarks.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "Please retain" a document or item, specify the duration or purpose for which it should be kept for clarity.

Common error

While "Please retain" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "Keep this" or "Hold onto this" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Please retain" functions primarily as an imperative, specifically used to issue a polite command or instruction. As noted by Ludwig AI, it serves to direct someone to keep or preserve something. It is most often used to instruct that some item should be kept.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Please retain" is a polite and direct imperative phrase used to instruct someone to keep or preserve something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase. It's commonly found in professional and neutral settings, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's essential to consider the formality of the situation and choose more casual alternatives like "Keep this" in informal conversations. The phrase serves the practical purpose of ensuring the preservation of items or information for future use, whether it's documents, tickets, or bookmarks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kindly keep

Uses 'kindly' to add a touch of politeness, slightly more formal.

Do keep

Adds emphasis to the request to keep something.

Make sure to keep

Emphasizes the importance of keeping something.

Hold onto

More informal way of asking someone to keep something, suggesting temporary keeping.

Preserve

Formal and often used when referring to maintaining something in its original condition.

Maintain

Suggests keeping something in good working order or condition.

Remember to save

Specifically focused on saving digital or physical items for future use.

Keep safe

Emphasizes the security aspect of retaining something.

Don't discard

Advises against throwing something away, implying it has value.

Important: keep this

Directly indicates the significance of retaining the item.

FAQs

How do I use "Please retain" in a sentence?

Use "Please retain" to formally request someone to keep something. For example, "Please retain this receipt for warranty purposes" or "Please retain a copy of this agreement for your records".

What's a less formal way to say "Please retain"?

If you're looking for something less formal than "Please retain", try phrases like "Keep this", "Hold onto this", or "Don't throw this away".

When is it appropriate to use "Please retain"?

"Please retain" is suitable for formal settings such as business correspondence, legal instructions, or official notices. It adds a level of politeness and professionalism to your request.

What's the difference between "Please retain" and "Please maintain"?

"Please retain" means to keep something in its current state, while "Please maintain" implies keeping something in good condition or working order. Retain focuses on possession; maintain focuses on upkeep.