hold material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold material" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of retaining or possessing physical items or information. Example: "The warehouse is designed to hold material safely until it is needed for production."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

As the talkies took hold, material was harvested from stage plays and radio favourites.

The Guardian - Film

Violators of immigration laws, such as those who overstay their visas, have always been subject to detention; and prosecutors have always had the power to hold material witnesses.

The New Yorker

The two libraries hold material which was originally in the same collections, or even the same volumes, so the four-year project will reunite material separated for centuries.

The Guardian

And galleries that were originally Louise and Andrew Carnegie's bedrooms hold material from the museum's founding collection, assembled by a pair of enterprising sisters, Eleanor and Sara Hewitt.

The New York Times - Arts

On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether he may sue John Ashcroft, the former attorney general, for what Mr. Kidd contends was an unconstitutional use of a law meant to hold "material witnesses".

The New York Times

STRIVERS -- The largest group, 23percentt of the world's adult population, hold "material things extremely important," Mr. Miller said, valuing "wealth, status, ambition and power" and products like computers and cellular telephones.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

We may hold materials for publication at a later date.

Cornell University

In large offices, Shred-It sets up locked gray containers to hold materials.

The New York Times

Mann Library's Special Collections hold materials that are too rare, valuable or fragile to be housed in the regular stacks.

Cornell University

Ms. Dufault, 22, was killed when her hair became caught in the lathe, whose rotating axis is used to hold materials like wood or metal being shaped.

The New York Times

Special collections within the Library hold materials of cultural, historical, and artistic significance, representing the diverse populations and cultural traditions of the world's settled continents.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about physical objects, use "hold material" to describe the action of keeping or supporting the object. Example: "The clamp is designed to hold material securely during the welding process."

Common error

Using "hold material" to describe abstract concepts or ideas can be unclear. Instead, opt for verbs like "contain", "represent", or "include" for better clarity. For example, instead of saying "the theory holds material relevant to the discussion", say "the theory contains material relevant to the discussion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold material" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "hold" is the verb indicating the action of retaining, supporting, or containing something and "material" is the direct object. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where "hold" describes the action performed on "material".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold material" is a grammatically sound phrase that can be used to describe the act of retaining, supporting, or containing physical objects or information. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. While "hold material" appears most frequently in news and media and scientific contexts, it's crucial to consider the context and choose more precise alternatives like "retain material" or "contain material" for greater clarity. Avoid using the phrase when referring to abstract concepts. Pay attention to these guidelines to ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain material

Focuses on keeping or preserving the material, emphasizing continued possession.

store material

Emphasizes the act of placing material in a specific location for safekeeping or future use.

contain material

Highlights the enclosure or accommodation of material within a specific boundary or container.

possess material

Indicates ownership or control of the material, stressing the legal or rightful claim.

keep material

Implies maintaining possession of the material, with a nuance of protecting it from loss or damage.

preserve material

Stresses the act of maintaining the material in its original condition, often for historical or scientific purposes.

handle material

Focuses on the physical manipulation or management of the material, implying a degree of care or expertise.

secure material

Emphasizes the act of making the material safe or protected from theft, damage, or unauthorized access.

maintain material

Indicates an ongoing effort to keep the material in good condition or proper order.

accommodate material

Highlights the provision of space or resources to house or support the material.

FAQs

How can I use "hold material" in a sentence?

"Hold material" can be used to describe physically retaining something, like "The library can "hold materials" for publication at a later date", or to describe how something contains components, like "Comets are believed to "hold materials" that are largely unchanged since the formation of the planets".

What are some alternatives to "hold material"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "retain material", "store material", or "contain material".

Is it correct to use "hold material" when referring to digital data?

While technically correct, it's more common to use terms like "store data", "archive data", or "retain data" when discussing digital information. For instance, "The cloud service stores a large amount of user data" sounds more natural than "The cloud service holds a large amount of user material".

What's the difference between "hold material" and "contain material"?

"Hold material" generally refers to physically keeping something in place or retaining possession, while "contain material" suggests that something has the material within it as part of its composition. For instance, a box can "hold material", while a chemical compound can "contain material".