do not maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do not maintain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to instruct someone not to keep or uphold something, such as a standard, condition, or practice. Example: "In this project, please do not maintain any outdated procedures that could hinder our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Taiwan and the Philippines do not maintain official diplomatic relations.

The New York Times

They do not maintain rigid boundaries in religious belief.

Britannica

However, the physiologist often works with systems that do not maintain steady state for long.

Metabolic Engineering

Yet other social sciences, particularly psychology, do not maintain such a rule.

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

However LMSs do not maintain any elements to guide educators to design and develop instruction.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Often supermarkets do not maintain proper temperature in refrigerated cases for meat, poultry and produce.

The New York Times - Food

Clones do not maintain the personality traits of their "parent" donors, damn it!

The Guardian - Film

Low-income consumers, because they usually need all their money every week, do not maintain balances.

The New York Times

The United States and Venezuela do not maintain an ambassador in each other's capital.

The New York Times

Toucans, except the toucanets (genus Aulacorhynchus), do not maintain clean nests.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is no secret that landlords often do not maintain the public spaces as initially designed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "do not maintain", ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what is not being maintained and by whom.

Common error

Avoid using "do not maintain" when a more specific term like "neglect" or "discontinue" better reflects the context. "Do not maintain" is best when referring to an ongoing lack of effort, not a deliberate cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not maintain" functions as a verb phrase expressing negation. According to Ludwig, it indicates a lack of action to keep something in a particular condition or state. The examples show it used across various domains, such as relationships between countries, or maintenance of systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "do not maintain" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate a lack of upkeep or support, applicable across various contexts from scientific research to international relations. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. When using this phrase, ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "fail to keep" or "do not preserve" exist, "do not maintain" is appropriate when referring to an ongoing lack of effort rather than a deliberate cessation. Its widespread presence in diverse sources underscores its utility in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to keep

Emphasizes a failure in the act of keeping something in a certain condition.

do not preserve

Focuses on the lack of action to protect something from damage or decay.

do not sustain

Highlights the inability to provide support or resources to keep something going.

do not retain

Emphasizes the absence of keeping something in possession or memory.

do not conserve

Focuses on the lack of careful use of resources to prevent waste.

neglect to upkeep

Indicates a failure to provide necessary maintenance or repair.

do not service

Highlights the absence of providing maintenance or repairs to equipment or systems.

refuse to support

Implies a deliberate decision not to provide assistance or resources.

cease to care for

Focuses on stopping the act of providing attention or protection.

discontinue upkeep

Indicates that the maintenance is stopped

FAQs

How can I use "do not maintain" in a sentence?

Use "do not maintain" to indicate a lack of upkeep or support. For example, "They do not maintain the equipment properly", or "The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations".

What are some alternatives to "do not maintain"?

You can use alternatives like "fail to keep", "do not preserve", or "do not sustain" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "does not maintain" or "do not maintain"?

"Does not maintain" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He does not maintain"), while "do not maintain" is used with plural subjects or the pronouns 'I', 'we', 'you', and 'they' (e.g., "They do not maintain").

What's the difference between "do not maintain" and "do not preserve"?

"Do not maintain" implies a lack of ongoing effort to keep something in a certain condition, while "do not preserve" suggests a failure to protect something from damage or decay. The choice depends on whether the context involves continuous upkeep or protection from harm.