for having retained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for having retained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the reason or justification for someone maintaining possession or control over something. Example: "She received praise for having retained her composure during the crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They are pursuing an inquiry that focuses on whether Mr. Deutch should face criminal charges for having retained highly classified information on his unsecured home computers while he was leading the agency.

The New York Times

"If the speech is anything like what is being reported," Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Times, "the President will go down in history for having retained and defended George W. Bush's surveillance programs rather than reformed them".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

His response was that he felt there was no obvious need for change and having retained Edwards, his attention will turn to the attack coach, Rob Howley, and the forwards coach, Robin McBryde, whose contracts end next summer.

The Guardian - Sport

England will still return home having retained, for what it is worth, the Wisden Trophy.

The Guardian - Sport

Global Strategy Group, the Democratic consultant firm that Coloradans for Coloradans has retained, is also currently working for Priorities USA Action – a Hillary Clinton Super Pac.

The Guardian

Its sobriquet "the City of Light" ("la Ville Lumière"), earned during the Enlightenment, remains appropriate, for Paris has retained its importance as a centre for education and intellectual pursuits.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With taxi-hailing apps set to begin for yellow taxis as soon as this month, for-hire owners have retained the counsel of Randy M. Mastro, a former deputy mayor for operations under Rudolph W. Giuliani, in preparation for a possible suit.

The New York Times

However, McCaskill's office said, the American Council for Education has retained a private law firm to conduct a webinar for member institutions, cautioning them on whether and how they should respond to the senator's sexual assault survey.

Huffington Post

Kelley, for one, has retained Abbe Lowell, the Washington-based attorney who defended John Edwards and Jack Abramoff.

The New Yorker

G.M., for example, has retained the services of Jay Alix, the co-founder of AlixPartners, the consulting firm.

The New York Times

Indeed, breast and ovarian cancer cell line collections, for example, have retained molecular characteristics corresponding to those of their in vivo counterparts, thus providing powerful options for modelling cancer heterogeneity in vitro and for studying the several hallmarks of cancer.

Cell Death and Disease

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for having retained", ensure the context clearly indicates the benefit or consequence of the retention. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing the reason or justification behind maintaining something.

Common error

Avoid using "for having retained" in simple sentences where simpler alternatives like "for keeping" or "for maintaining" would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for having retained" typically functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a reason or justification. It connects an action or state to the act of keeping or maintaining something. Ludwig provides examples where it explains why someone kept classified data or how someone defended surveillance programs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for having retained" functions as a prepositional phrase to explain the reason or justification behind an act of keeping or maintaining something. As Ludwig confirms, its usage is grammatically correct, though relatively rare and leaning towards a neutral register. While versatile, it is best employed in contexts where the reason for retention is significant, avoiding overuse in simpler sentences where alternatives like "for keeping" or "for maintaining" are more appropriate. Top authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for keeping

A more direct and simple way of expressing the same concept.

for maintaining

Focuses on the active effort to preserve something.

for holding onto

Emphasizes the act of grasping and not letting go.

because of retaining

Shifts the focus to causation rather than simple possession.

due to having kept

A more formal way of expressing causation with 'keeping'.

in light of preserving

A more sophisticated phrase highlighting the importance of the preservation.

as a result of holding

Expresses that the holding is the reason for something else.

given sustaining

A brief and high-level statement that conveys a connection to something.

considering their preservation

It considers the act of preservation to be the root of the matter.

regarding the conservation

Highlights the act of conservation.

FAQs

How can I use "for having retained" in a sentence?

You can use "for having retained" to indicate the reason or justification for keeping something. For example, "He was commended for having retained his composure during the crisis".

What can I say instead of "for having retained"?

You can use alternatives like "for keeping", "for maintaining", or "for holding onto" depending on the specific context.

Is it more correct to say "for retaining" or "for having retained"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "for having retained" emphasizes the completed action of retaining something, whereas "for retaining" can refer to an ongoing process.

What is the difference between "for having retained" and "for keeping"?

"For having retained" is generally more formal and emphasizes the act of maintaining possession or control. "For keeping" ("for keeping") is a simpler and more direct alternative.