be maintained by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be maintained by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the responsibility or action of keeping something in a certain state or condition, typically referring to systems, equipment, or processes. Example: "The software must be maintained by a qualified technician to ensure optimal performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their private road will be maintained by a homeowner's association.

The New York Times

The central green, planted with fruit trees, is to be maintained by a homeowners' association.

The New York Times

The new Web sites would be maintained by the state police.

The New York Times

The city's golf courses used to be maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The New Yorker

She believes the league will survive only if it can be maintained by local leaders.

The New York Times - Sports

The privacy of their killing must be maintained by protecting us from their faces.

Independent

Black families are almost four times as likely to be maintained by women as white families.

The New Yorker

The California portion will be maintained by a handful of companies.

The New York Times

But other phenomena that look like diseases are known to be maintained by natural selection.

The Economist

He said he expected the single store to be maintained by his heirs.

The New York Times - Books

None of them mention that the building was erected and continues to be maintained by the grace of taxpayer dollars.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be maintained by", ensure clarity regarding who or what is performing the maintenance. Specify the responsible party to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid passive voice constructions that obscure who is responsible for the maintenance. Instead of "the system will be maintained by", specify "the IT department will maintain the system" for clearer accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be maintained by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject receives maintenance from a specified agent. Ludwig's examples illustrate this usage across various contexts, specifying who is responsible for the upkeep.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be maintained by" is a common passive construction used to indicate the entity responsible for the upkeep or support of something. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. The phrase is grammatically correct and clear, but writers should consider using the active voice for improved clarity, as passive constructions can sometimes obscure responsibility. Alternatives like "be kept up by", "be supported by", or "be administered by" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be kept up by

Replaces "maintained" with "kept up", slightly less formal.

be supported by

Focuses on the support aspect rather than maintenance.

be sustained by

Emphasizes the continuation of something through support.

be managed by

Focuses on the management aspect of maintaining something.

be upheld by

Implies a sense of upholding standards or conditions.

be overseen by

Implies supervision and control in the maintenance process.

be preserved by

Highlights the act of preserving something in its current state.

be administered by

Highlights the administrative role in maintaining something.

be looked after by

More informal, emphasizing care and attention.

be cared for by

Similar to "looked after by", focusing on care.

FAQs

How can I use "be maintained by" in a sentence?

Use "be maintained by" to indicate who or what is responsible for keeping something in good condition. For example, "The website will "be maintained by" the marketing team".

What are some alternatives to "be maintained by"?

You can use alternatives such as "be kept up by", "be supported by", or "be administered by" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "be maintained by"?

While "be maintained by" is passive, active voice often provides more clarity. Consider rephrasing to say "The team maintains the system" instead of "The system is "be maintained by" the team".

What does "be maintained by" imply about the subject?

"Be maintained by" suggests that the subject requires ongoing care or upkeep to remain in a functional or desired state. It indicates a dependency on an external entity for this upkeep.