held in confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "held in confidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to any information that has been shared with someone and should be kept secure and private. For example: The details of the client's financial situation should be held in confidence by their accountant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

For all Facebook's hard-to-follow privacy settings, secret groups are the one place where you can trust that a conversation is being held in confidence.

The New York Times

It is held in confidence by the government's waste advisory body, Wrap, and aggregated to provide an assessment of how the sector is performing against agreed targets.

The Guardian

The article refers to information on the public domain and does not discuss material held in confidence by any of the stakeholders.

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

If a survivor or student believes a report will be held in confidence and it is shared, that is also hurtful betrayal.

Huffington Post

It is incredible to know that I can pick up the phone or have a glass of wine with a mentor and trust that the conversation is held in confidence and that they are going to be honest with me in their advice.

Huffington Post

Interviews were held in confidence, in a room of the SEP.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Doctors and lawyers are information fiduciaries because they hold in confidence data about us, whether it's supplied or gathered.

The New Yorker

For society, too, there are uncomfortable difficulties: we may not be ready to accept — or pay for — a cadre of people who identify the flaws in the professionals upon whom we rely, and yet hold in confidence what they see.

The New Yorker

Another example, mentioned earlier, is the obligation of a defense attorney to hold in confidence the disclosures made by a client.

SEP

She is said to have an obligation to hold in confidence the disclosures made by a client and to be required to conduct herself with candor before the court (where the latter requires that the attorney inform the court when her client commits perjury) (Freedman 1975, Chapter 3).

SEP

Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "held in confidence", clearly define who is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and what specific information is covered. This avoids ambiguity and ensures everyone understands their obligations.

Common error

Don't assume everyone interprets "held in confidence" the same way. Explicitly state any exceptions or limitations to the confidentiality agreement to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held in confidence" functions as a passive construction indicating that information is being kept secret or private. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used to express the state of confidentiality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "held in confidence" is a common way to describe information that is meant to be kept private. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. It is often found in news articles, scientific publications, and formal business documents. When using this phrase, it's important to be clear about who is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and what specific information is covered. Alternatives include "kept secret" and "treated as confidential", each with a slightly different emphasis. Understanding the nuances of these phrases can help you communicate more effectively about privacy and security.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

treated as confidential

Emphasizes the handling and management of information with a focus on its private nature.

kept private

Highlights the personal or restricted nature of the information.

kept secret

Focuses on the act of maintaining secrecy rather than the trust implied in "confidence".

respected as private

Stresses the importance of honoring the privacy of the information.

maintained in secrecy

Similar to "kept secret" but with a stronger emphasis on the continuous aspect of maintaining secrecy.

not to be disclosed

A more formal and direct instruction regarding the handling of sensitive information.

protected from disclosure

Focuses on safeguarding information against being revealed.

entrusted in secret

Focuses on the act of conveying information with an expectation of privacy.

handled with discretion

Emphasizes the careful and prudent management of sensitive information.

considered privileged information

Highlights the special status and protection afforded to certain types of information, often in legal or professional contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "held in confidence" in a sentence?

You can use "held in confidence" to describe information that should not be shared with others. For example, "The details of our agreement will be "held in confidence" by both parties".

What does it mean for something to be "held in confidence"?

When information is "held in confidence", it means that it is meant to be kept secret and not disclosed to unauthorized individuals.

What are some alternatives to saying "held in confidence"?

Some alternatives to "held in confidence" include "kept secret", "treated as confidential", or "kept private".

In what situations is information typically "held in confidence"?

Information is typically "held in confidence" in legal agreements, medical consultations, business negotiations, and personal relationships where privacy is expected.