had maintained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had maintained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has continued to hold a particular position or state over a period of time, often in the past. Example: "She had maintained her innocence throughout the trial, despite the overwhelming evidence against her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They had maintained a feud for years.

The New Yorker

Both countries had maintained military posts in the disputed region.

Britannica

Recently, though, they had maintained a kind of truce.

The New Yorker

Mr. O'Neill, had maintained for months that he would run.

The New York Times

The Sea Beggars had maintained their control of the Zuiderzee.

Britannica

Ms. Dragos had maintained dual lives on social media.

The New York Times

Throughout his audience, the boy had maintained a deferential bearing.

The New Yorker

Terry had maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

The Guardian - Sport

Alstom had maintained its office in Tehran even during sanctions.

The Guardian

He had maintained a residence in Naples since 1969.

The New York Times

A balance that Iraq's ruthless dictator had maintained for years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had maintained", ensure that the time frame and context are clear to avoid ambiguity. Specify what was maintained and for how long to provide a complete picture.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses within the same sentence or paragraph when using "had maintained". Ensure that the surrounding verbs are also in the past perfect or simple past tense to maintain clarity and grammatical consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had maintained" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and frequently used, indicating an action or state that continued up to a certain point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had maintained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it describes a state or action that continued up to a specific point in the past, often to provide context. It's commonly found in news and media but applicable across various registers. When using this phrase, be mindful of tense consistency and clarity regarding what was maintained and for how long. For alternative phrasing, consider "had upheld", "had sustained", or "had retained" to subtly shift the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had continued to hold

A more verbose alternative that stresses the uninterrupted nature of maintaining something.

had upheld

Focuses on supporting or defending something, suggesting active endorsement.

had sustained

Implies keeping something going, often under difficult conditions.

had retained

Suggests keeping possession of something, often against potential loss.

had steadfastly kept

Highlights the unwavering and reliable nature of maintaining something.

had preserved

Emphasizes protecting something from harm or decay to maintain its original state.

had persisted in

Implies continuing despite difficulty or opposition.

had conserved

Highlights the careful and efficient use of resources to ensure their availability over time.

had tenaciously held onto

Emphasizes the determination and strength with which something was maintained.

had kept up

An informal way of saying that someone continued to maintain something, especially a pace or level of effort.

FAQs

How do I use "had maintained" in a sentence?

Use "had maintained" to describe an action or state that continued for a period of time before something else happened. For example, "She "had maintained" her composure until she heard the news."

What are some alternatives to "had maintained"?

You can use alternatives like "had upheld", "had sustained", or "had retained" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has maintained" instead of "had maintained"?

The choice between "has maintained" and "had maintained" depends on the context. "Has maintained" is present perfect, indicating something that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had maintained" is past perfect, indicating something that was maintained before a specific point in the past.

What's the difference between "had maintained" and "maintained"?

"Maintained" is in the simple past tense, describing a completed action in the past. "Had maintained" is in the past perfect tense, indicating that the maintaining occurred before another past action or time. For example, "She maintained her silence" versus "She had maintained her silence until he asked her directly."