it has been retained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been retained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been kept or preserved, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "The document has been reviewed, and it has been retained for future reference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It has been retained by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant churches.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It opened in 1976 with the intention of being a temporary expedient until the underground was built, but has proved so popular it has been retained.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although the name is no longer appropriate, it has been retained to describe all spin-1/2 particles that do not feel the strong force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Labour created the current structure of UK Financial Investments overseeing the £45bn pumped into RBS and £20bn into Lloyds Banking Group during the 2008 banking crisis and it has been retained by the coalition.

The Guardian - Business

It has been retained by Assemblyman Scott Stringer's campaign for public advocate, and by Ronald Law, a candidate for Bronx borough president who was a Giuliani administration official and an aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

The New York Times

The bank was announced by the previous Labour Party government shortly before it lost the election this year; but it has been retained by Prime Minister David Cameron as a central plank of the agreement that binds the Conservative government with its Liberal-Democratic partner.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It is understood that Nasdaq has hired Dresdner Kleinwort Benson as its financial adviser, though the investment bank declined to confirm or deny that it had been retained.

The New York Times

The American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey announced on Monday that it had been retained by some of Mr. Rahami's relatives to represent him in his federal case.

The New York Times

Again and again arguments and objections would be brought up based upon some uninterpreted dream in the form in which it had been retained in the memory, and the need to interpret it would be ignored.

The New York Times - Books

It had been retained, he said, by a special provision set out when his father sold the property, which was eventually bought by the military before the Civil War.

The New York Times

Late last month, Laverne Dobbinson received a letter, addressed to her son, from a law firm notifying him that it had been retained by the City of New York to collect money for damages to a police car.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it has been retained", ensure the subject of "it" is clearly defined in the preceding context to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The original design was unpopular, but it has been retained for historical reasons."

Common error

Avoid using "it has been retained" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For instance, instead of "The company decided that the policy it has been retained", try "The company decided to retain the policy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been retained" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence has undergone an action (being retained). As Ludwig AI specifies, the phrase is usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate it in diverse contexts from legal to technical writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been retained" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive voice construction to denote that something has been kept or preserved. As Ludwig AI affirms, it's suitable for written English across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science, it carries a neutral to formal register. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "it has been kept" or "it has been maintained". When using "it has been retained", ensure clarity by clearly defining the subject and avoiding overuse in situations where active voice provides a more direct expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been kept

Replaces "retained" with "kept", a more common synonym, making the phrase slightly less formal.

it has been preserved

Substitutes "retained" with "preserved", emphasizing the act of maintaining something in its original condition.

it has been maintained

Uses "maintained" instead of "retained", highlighting the ongoing effort to keep something in a certain state.

it has been conserved

Replaces "retained" with "conserved", often used in the context of resources or energy.

it was kept

Changes the tense from present perfect to simple past, shifting the focus to a specific point in the past.

it remained

Simplifies the phrase to "it remained", focusing on the state of staying in a particular condition.

it was upheld

Replaces "retained" with "upheld", often used in the context of rules, laws, or decisions.

it was held

Similar to "it remained", but with a slightly more formal tone, implying a deliberate decision to keep something.

it has been upheld

Uses "upheld" which implies that something has been defended or supported.

it stood

A more concise alternative, conveying the idea that something remained unchanged or in effect.

FAQs

How can I use "it has been retained" in a sentence?

Use "it has been retained" to indicate that something has been kept or preserved. For example: "Although the law was controversial, "it has been retained" due to its historical significance."

What are some alternatives to "it has been retained"?

You can use alternatives such as "it has been kept", "it has been preserved", or "it has been maintained" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "it has been retained" or "it was retained"?

""it has been retained"" (present perfect) implies the retention continues to the present, while "it was retained" (simple past) refers to a past action that may or may not continue.

What's the difference between "it has been retained" and "it has been preserved"?

While both imply keeping something, ""it has been retained"" suggests a decision to keep something, whereas "it has been preserved" emphasizes maintaining its original condition.