it retained for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it retained for" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "The data it retained for analysis was crucial to the study."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In 1907, the protectorate was renamed Nyasaland, a name it retained for the remainder of its time under British rule.

Wikipedia

After an initial lag in activity, the storefront on the right began selling women's clothes before turning into a smoke shop, an identity it retained for some years, even as its neighbor morphed from furniture store to unisex boutique to beauty salon, with superficial alterations at each change.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather, it retained for NATO the possibility that it would be the first to use nuclear weapons and suggested that this initially would involve short-range tactical weapons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the account books for 1473 75, Halifax parish had the largest cloth production in the West Riding (a division of the historic county of Yorkshire), a position it retained for three centuries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

During the Glorious Revolution (1688 89), Dryden was dismissed for refusing the oath of allegiance, and this gave the appointment a political flavour, which it retained for more than 200 years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Outside of Honeoye Falls, the route becomes Clover Street, a name it retains for the rest of its routing.

Wikipedia

Yet it retains, for certain Californians, a nagging resonance.

The New Yorker

Along with Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics (1925-1926), the work sketches Heidegger's early departure from Husserl's phenomenology, though it retains for transcendence the priority of Dasein's being-in-the-world.

SEP

The two-lane route heads to the northeast as Moseley Road, a name it retains for the next 4 mile.

Wikipedia

At the intersection, NY 31 becomes Saunders Settlement Road, a name it retains for almost 15 mile.

Wikipedia

Here, the route reverts to a generally easterly alignment, one that it retains for the next 10 mile to Baldwinsville.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something that was kept for a particular reason, ensure you use a grammatically correct construction like "it was retained for" or "it retained its [quality] for."

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it retained for" without a clear subject and a complete passive construction. This phrase often lacks clarity and may confuse readers. Instead, use a formulation like "it was retained for analysis" or "it retained its value for years".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it retained for" functions as part of a passive construction where an object or concept is kept or preserved for a specific purpose. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this construction often feels incomplete and requires additional context to be grammatically sound. The correct use of passive voice requires auxiliary verbs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

22%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

29%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it retained for" is often grammatically incomplete and requires careful construction to ensure clarity. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase by itself is incorrect in standard written English. To use the idea of retaining something for a purpose, it's better to use more complete structures such as "it was retained for" or "it retained its value". Ludwig examples show a mix of Science, News & Media, and Encyclopedias. By avoiding this incomplete phrasing, you can improve the clarity and grammatical correctness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was kept for

Changes the verb to a more standard passive construction using "kept" instead of "retained".

it was maintained for

Uses "maintained" to indicate something was actively preserved or upheld.

it was held for

Employs "held" to suggest a temporary keeping or reservation.

it was preserved for

Highlights the act of protecting something for future use or a specific reason.

it was saved for

Indicates something was set aside or stored for a particular purpose.

it remained for

Focuses on the state of something being left for a future action or purpose.

it was cataloged for

Implies an organization and recording for a specific future intention.

it was filed for

Suggests storage of something in organized manner for future needs.

it was reserved for

Indicates something was kept separate for a distinguished use or user.

it was designated for

Denotes that something was officially assigned to a specific purpose or use.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of “it was retained” in a sentence?

You can clarify this by completing the passive construction: "it was retained for analysis", "it was retained for future use", or "it was retained due to its historical significance". These additions provide a purpose and improve grammatical correctness.

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to “it retained for”?

Consider options like “it was maintained for”, “it was kept for”, or “it retained its [quality] for”. For instance, instead of “it retained for testing”, you could say “it was maintained for testing” or “"it retained its integrity" for testing”.

Is there a difference between saying “it was retained for” and “it retained its”?

Yes, “it was retained for” requires a description of the purpose (e.g., “it was retained for evidence”), while “"it retained its [quality]"” specifies what aspect or quality was preserved (e.g., “it retained its shape”).

In what contexts is “it retained for” most appropriately used?

The phrase is used when needing to explain for what scope, aim, reason or cause something was held. Instead, the phrase is more appropriate when you clearly explain what was hold for what reason. For example: “the sample "it was retained for analysis"”.