helped sustaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "helped sustaining" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "helped to sustain" or "helped sustain." Example: "The community efforts helped sustain the local wildlife population."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

During the Early Pliocene the ACC returned to its original position [ 36], and even though Antarctica and the Macquarie Ridge had already split, this new placement of the ACC between the respective populations could have helped sustaining the isolation of the northern populations.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

That helped sustain growth.

The Economist

They helped sustain his popularity until the 1920's.

The New York Times - Arts

Extensions of rebates and other discounts helped sustain the buying.

The New York Times

The Panthers have also helped sustain today's movements.

The Guardian - Opinion

And that helped sustain a steady rise in commodity prices.

The Economist

Providing a global online platform helped sustain and accelerate momentum for this important day".

The Guardian

Mr. Boisjoly, who died in January, said her gesture had helped sustain him during a troubled time".

The New Yorker

In the morning, it appears there was a wave of such orders, which helped sustain prices.

The New York Times

It's even possible that the glory of Star Wars helped sustain that creaking dinosaur, James Bond.

The Guardian - Film

These deals have helped sustain Russia's struggling arms manufacturers and nuclear industry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "helped" with "sustain", ensure you use the correct infinitive form: "helped to sustain" or simply "helped sustain". For example: "The new policies helped to sustain economic growth."

Common error

A common mistake is using the gerund form ("sustaining") directly after "helped". Remember that "helped" typically needs an infinitive ("to sustain") or can directly precede the base verb ("sustain"). Avoid using "helped sustaining".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "helped sustaining" attempts to express the action of aiding in the continuation or maintenance of something. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically incorrect and it should be followed by 'to sustain' or simply 'sustain'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "helped sustaining" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As pointed out by Ludwig, the correct forms are "helped to sustain" or simply "helped sustain". Although the phrase appears in a few sources, primarily in news and scientific contexts, it's essential to use the grammatically correct alternatives for clear and effective communication. Always opt for "helped to sustain" or "helped sustain" to maintain grammatical accuracy and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

helped to sustain

This is the grammatically correct infinitive form, adding 'to' between 'helped' and 'sustain'.

helped in sustaining

This alternative uses a prepositional phrase, focusing on the action of sustaining.

contributed to sustaining

This option emphasizes the contribution made to the act of sustenance.

assisted in sustaining

This uses a more formal verb, 'assisted', while keeping the focus on the action.

helped maintain

Uses "maintain" as a synonym for "sustain", implying assistance in keeping something in its current state.

played a role in sustaining

This phrase highlights the contribution made towards maintaining something.

supported the sustenance of

Shifts the focus to direct support, emphasizing the active provision of what is needed to continue.

aided in the sustenance of

This is a highly formal alternative emphasizing the act of providing support for survival or continuation.

facilitated the sustaining of

Highlights making the process of sustaining easier or more possible.

backed the sustaining of

Uses a more colloquial term, 'backed', to imply support for the act of sustaining.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "helped sustain" in a sentence?

Use "helped sustain" when you want to express that something aided in maintaining or prolonging something else. For example: "The government's policies helped sustain economic growth."

What's the difference between "helped sustain" and "helped to sustain"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Helped sustain" is more concise, while "helped to sustain" is slightly more formal. The choice depends on your desired tone and style.

Is it ever correct to say "helped sustaining"?

No, "helped sustaining" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct forms are "helped sustain" or "helped to sustain".

What can I say instead of "helped sustain"?

Alternatives include "assisted in sustaining", "contributed to sustaining", or "played a role in sustaining" depending on the nuance you want to convey.