had retained for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had retained for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been kept or maintained over a period of time. Example: "She had retained for many years the knowledge she gained during her studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In two days after Caesar came to the camp with nine hundred horse, which he had retained for a body guard.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The chemistry expert that he had retained for the case did, however, vaguely recall an article in a trade journal about a similar-sounding compound: PFOS, a soaplike agent used by the technology conglomerate 3M in the fabrication of Scotchgard.

The New York Times - Magazine

Needing in May 1989 to cut staff at Piscataway High School by one, the board had fired Ms Taxman, who is white, but had retained for the sake of racial diversity a black teacher, Debra Williams, who had identical qualifications and seniority.

The Economist

They spotted it at 0735 and brushed aside the 13 Zeros that the Japanese had retained for self-defense.

Wikipedia

They leased it to a separate company, transferring the responsibility, and focused on four acres that they had retained for themselves.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

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

The Guardian - Sport

Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer the union has retained for the case, works at the firm.

The New York Times - Sports

Even Paul Selver, an experienced land-use lawyer whom Elghanayan has retained for the next round, has a hard time thinking of any.

The New Yorker

I was looking for a quiet place to start a book, whatever the book might be, and I realised it would have to be about this, a poem my father has retained for 80 years.

The Guardian - Books

The Ferrari is more gentle on its tyres, a characteristic it has retained for many years.

BBC

The Vietnamese I met have imprinted on my synapses the memories that they have retained for a very long time.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had retained for", ensure the context clearly indicates what was kept, for how long, and for what purpose. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had retained for" when a simple past tense ("retained for") is sufficient. The past perfect tense (had + retained) is appropriate when describing an action completed before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had retained for" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating an action of keeping or maintaining something for a specific duration or purpose that concluded before another action in the past. As seen in Ludwig's examples, this phrase helps to establish a timeline of events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had retained for" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that something was kept or maintained for a specific reason or duration before another event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not overly common, the phrase appears across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and encyclopedic content. For clarity, it's best practice to clearly indicate what was retained, the duration, and the purpose. Alternatives like "had kept for" or "had held for" offer simpler options without sacrificing meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had kept for

Replaces "retained" with "kept", a more common synonym, maintaining the original meaning.

had held for

Substitutes "retained" with "held", emphasizing the act of holding onto something.

had reserved for

Replaces "retained" with "reserved", suggesting that something was specifically set aside.

had preserved for

Substitutes "retained" with "preserved", indicating an effort to maintain something in its original condition.

had maintained for

Replaces "retained" with "maintained", emphasizing the continuation of a certain state or condition.

had saved for

Changes "retained" to "saved", implying that something was kept for future use.

had stored for

Substitutes "retained" with "stored", indicating that something was kept in a specific location.

had set aside for

Replaces "retained" with "set aside", emphasizing the deliberate act of allocating something for a particular purpose.

had allocated for

Changes "retained" to "allocated", suggesting that something was officially designated for a specific use.

had earmarked for

Substitutes "retained" with "earmarked", indicating that something was specifically designated for a certain purpose, often financial.

FAQs

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

Use "had retained for" to indicate something was kept or maintained for a specific reason or duration before another past event. For example, "She "had retained for" years the knowledge she gained during her studies before applying it to her new job".

What's a simpler way to say "had retained for"?

Alternatives include "had kept for" or "had held for", which convey a similar meaning with slightly less formality.

When is it correct to use "had retained for" instead of "retained for"?

"Had retained for" is used in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Retained for" in the simple past tense is used for actions that occurred at a specific time in the past without reference to another past action.

What does "had retained for" imply about the duration or purpose?

The phrase "had retained for" implies that something was kept or maintained over a period of time for a specific reason or use, emphasizing the preparatory nature of the retention. Consider using more specific alternatives if duration/purpose aren't clear from the context.