it sustains that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sustains that" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect usage of "sustain," which typically means to support or maintain, rather than to assert or claim. Example: "The report sustains that the new policy will improve efficiency."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If it sustains that level of appeal across the board, with more than 25 further territories to come, Saving Private Ryan's worldwide record ($481.8m) for a war film will surely tumble.

The Guardian - Film

"The Two Chinatowns" isn't into heavy suspense, but in real-life police procedure there probably isn't that much suspense, and the main virtue of Mr. Mahoney's fine detective story is the strength of the illusion it sustains that things could have happened almost the way they happen in this book.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Britain remains a high-income country, but it only sustains that position through more people putting in more work hours.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whether it can sustain that trajectory is another matter.

The Guardian - Film

Whether it can sustain that gangbuster pace is far from clear.

The New York Times - Food

Whether it can sustain that momentum is critical to millions of Americans out of work — and perhaps President Obama's re-election chances.

The New York Times

Times executives say that of those former P-I subscriptions that have expired, 84 percent have been renewed; time will tell whether it can sustain that rate in the long run.

The New York Times

The press believed that the public's legitimate interest in the story was insatiable, and that belief required it to sustain that interest by following every possible development or turn, however implausible or apparently defamatory.

The Guardian

Whether it can sustain that level of growth over the long term remains an open question, but for the short term it surely has been impressive.

TechCrunch

Earlier in the day, the index had moved even higher, to 2582.37, but it could sustain that level through the close.

Forbes

"On the back of the Olympics, we did get a few more supporters, but it's about sustaining that and not letting it fizzle out".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision, consider using stronger verbs like "asserts", "maintains", or "claims" instead of "sustains" to convey a more direct meaning in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "sustain" when you mean to express a simple assertion or claim. "Sustain" typically implies providing support or maintenance, not simply stating a fact or opinion. Choose verbs like "assert", "claim", or "argue" for clearer communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sustains that" functions as a clause connector, attempting to introduce a dependent clause expressing an assertion. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is not standard English. It is more common to use verbs like 'maintains' or 'asserts'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it sustains that" appears in some writing, Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard English. Its intended function is to introduce a claim, but the verb "sustain" is not typically used in this way. For clearer and more grammatically correct writing, consider using alternatives like "it maintains that", "it asserts that", or "it claims that". These options provide a more precise and widely accepted way to express the intended meaning. Although the phrase is mostly used in News & Media contexts, choosing alternative phrasing enhances credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it maintains that

Replaces "sustains" with "maintains", implying a continued assertion or upkeep of an idea.

it asserts that

Substitutes "sustains" with "asserts", focusing on a firm declaration or affirmation.

it claims that

Uses "claims" instead of "sustains", suggesting a declaration that may require further proof.

it holds that

Replaces "sustains" with "holds", conveying the idea of maintaining a particular belief or opinion.

it supports the idea that

Expands the phrase to explicitly include "the idea", emphasizing the supportive role.

it upholds the view that

Emphasizes the act of defending or supporting a particular viewpoint.

it defends the position that

Highlights the act of protecting a specific stance or position.

it provides evidence that

Shifts the focus to presenting supporting evidence rather than a direct assertion.

it reinforces the belief that

Highlights the act of strengthening or confirming a pre-existing belief.

it validates the argument that

Focuses on confirming the validity of a specific argument.

FAQs

What does "it sustains that" mean?

The phrase "it sustains that" is not standard English. A more appropriate way to express a similar idea would be to use phrases such as "it maintains that" or "it asserts that", depending on the intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "it sustains that"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "it sustains that" with alternatives like "it claims that", "it argues that", or "it supports that".

Is "it sustains that" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "it sustains that" is not considered correct in standard written English. It's recommended to use more precise verbs to convey your intended meaning.

Which is more appropriate: "it sustains that" or "it maintains that"?

"It maintains that" is generally more appropriate and grammatically sound than "it sustains that". "Maintains" suggests a continued upholding of a statement or belief, whereas "sustains" is less clear in this context.