agreed to keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agreed to keep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a mutual understanding or commitment to maintain a certain condition or action. Example: "We have all agreed to keep the project on schedule despite the challenges we face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Putin agreed to keep discussing it.

The New York Times

The two sides agreed to keep talking.

The New York Times

We agreed to keep in touch online.

The Guardian

Murdoch and the Bancrofts agreed to keep talking.

The New Yorker

The feedback was positive and most of them agreed to keep records regarding water savings data.

Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia

They agreed to keep in touch by telephone hotline.

The New York Times

The couple agreed to keep breeding for the defect.

The Washington Post

But the two sides agreed to keep talking.

The New York Times

I also agreed to keep my hands to myself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The two sides have agreed to keep moving forward.

The Guardian

They agreed to keep his identity a secret.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "agreed to keep", ensure that the subject of the agreement and the object being kept are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The board agreed to keep the financial terms confidential" clarifies both aspects.

Common error

Avoid using "agreed to keep" without specifying what was agreed upon and what is being kept. For instance, saying "They agreed to keep" is vague. Instead, clarify with "They agreed to keep the meeting minutes confidential".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agreed to keep" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a mutual decision or understanding to maintain a certain state, condition, or action. It typically involves two or more parties who have reached a consensus. Ludwig's examples illustrate its wide applicability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

9%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "agreed to keep" is a versatile verb phrase widely used to indicate a mutual decision or consensus to maintain or preserve something. As Ludwig highlights, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. Understanding its nuances and potential for overuse is key to effective communication. While alternatives like "consented to maintain" or "vowed to uphold" exist, "agreed to keep" provides a clear and straightforward way to convey a commitment to ongoing action or preservation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consented to maintain

Uses "consented" to emphasize permission or agreement, and "maintain" to suggest ongoing effort.

decided to preserve

Replaces "agreed" with "decided" and "keep" with "preserve", highlighting a conscious choice to protect something.

vowed to uphold

Emphasizes a strong commitment or promise using "vowed" and "uphold", suggesting adherence to a principle or standard.

undertook to sustain

Uses "undertook" to indicate a formal commitment and "sustain" to convey long-term maintenance.

pledged to retain

Highlights a formal promise to keep something using "pledged" and "retain".

committed to conserve

Indicates a strong dedication to protect something using "committed" and "conserve".

arranged to safeguard

Focuses on the organizational aspect of ensuring something is kept safe, substituting "agreed" with "arranged" and "keep" with "safeguard".

reached a consensus to protect

Highlights the process of reaching an agreement using "reached a consensus" and uses "protect" to emphasize safety and preservation.

came to an understanding to secure

Emphasizes mutual understanding and safety, replacing "agreed" with "came to an understanding" and "keep" with "secure".

concurred to perpetuate

Uses "concurred" to highlight the act of agreeing and "perpetuate" to suggest making something continue indefinitely.

FAQs

What does "agreed to keep" mean?

"Agreed to keep" means that involved parties have reached a mutual understanding and committed to maintaining or preserving something, be it information, a condition, or an action. For example, "Both sides "agreed to keep talking"".

How can I use "agreed to keep" in a sentence?

Use "agreed to keep" to show that there was a consensus to maintain something. A good example is, "The company "agreed to keep prices affordable"".

What are some alternatives to "agreed to keep"?

Alternatives include "consented to maintain", "decided to preserve", or "vowed to uphold", each carrying a slightly different nuance in terms of commitment and action.

Is it grammatically correct to say "agreed to keeping"?

While "agreed to keep" is the standard and more common construction, "agreed to keeping" isn't incorrect, but it is less frequently used. "Agreed to keep" implies a direct action, while "agreed to keeping" emphasizes the act of continuing to maintain something.