be maintaining

USAGE SUMMARY

"be maintaining" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you want to express an ongoing action or state of maintenance. Example: "They will be maintaining the equipment throughout the project." Alternative expressions include "be keeping" and "be upholding."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The first priority should be maintaining a coalition," he said.

The New York Times

The Mavericks' first step would be maintaining a lead.

The New York Times - Sports

Showtime appear to be maintaining hope Lynch may reverse his decision.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

NSW police have said they will be maintaining a heavy presence in Cronulla on Saturday.

The Guardian

Above all, he seems to be maintaining the ferocious self-discipline that kept him sane inside.

The Guardian

One of its biggest challenges will be maintaining a healthy balance sheet as it ages.

The New York Times

H&M, which is further ahead in this, seems to be maintaining its big regional markups.

The Economist

Fourth, related to my first point, this is the moment to be maintaining the infrastructure we have.

The New York Times

Our main objective has to be maintaining the brilliant home record in the club's fourth Champions League appearance.

The Guardian - Sport

The challenge for Mr. Bach, editors at major business publishers say, will be maintaining his post- Oprah" momentum.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"People predicted their property values would go down, there'd be crime, we'd be maintaining a blighted community," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with modal verbs like 'will', 'should' or 'might' to discuss future expectations or ongoing obligations.

Common error

Writers sometimes use "be maintaining" when the simple infinitive 'to maintain' would be more concise. If the duration isn't the primary focus of your sentence, stick to the simpler form to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be maintaining" serves as a continuous infinitive. According to Ludwig AI, it is typically used following modal verbs (will, should, could) or as part of a complex predicate to indicate an ongoing state or action. It functions to bridge the gap between a simple action and a sustained process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "be maintaining" is a versatile and grammatically correct continuous infinitive used to emphasize the ongoing nature of support, preservation or assertion. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it is a staple of high-level journalism and scientific discourse, appearing over 50 times in top-tier sources. While it is perfectly acceptable in formal writing, authors should ensure the continuous aspect is necessary to avoid wordiness. It is most effectively used when discussing future continuity, institutional responsibility or long-term status quo.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue to maintain

Provides a slightly more formal emphasis on the persistence of the action.

continue maintaining

A direct gerund-based alternative that removes the infinitive 'to'.

be keeping up

More idiomatic and common in conversational or less formal contexts.

keep maintaining

Emphasizes repetition but can feel slightly redundant.

be sustaining

Implies providing the necessary resources to keep something going over time.

be preserving

Focuses specifically on preventing something from changing or decaying.

be upholding

Commonly used in the context of laws, standards or reputations.

remain maintaining

Highlights the state of the subject remaining in a specific condition.

be carrying on with

Phrasal verb alternative that emphasizes the process of continuation.

stay maintaining

Much less formal and rarely used in professional writing.

FAQs

How to use "be maintaining" in a sentence?

You can use "be maintaining" after modal verbs or as a continuous infinitive. For example: "The primary goal should "be maintaining" a healthy balance sheet."

What is the difference between "to maintain" and "be maintaining"?

While 'to maintain' denotes the action itself, "be maintaining" emphasizes that the action is ongoing and continuous. It is often synonymous with "to keep maintaining".

Is "be maintaining" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a correct continuous infinitive construction. It is frequently found in high-quality sources like The New York Times and The Economist to describe sustained efforts.

What can I say instead of "be maintaining"?

Depending on your context, you could use "be keeping", "be preserving" or "be upholding".