keep in force

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep in force" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are trying to emphasize that something should remain in effect. For example, "The owners of the company decided to keep the new policy in force indefinitely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We typically say, "I revoke all previous documents except the one signed on April 3 , 2012 in my home state of Minnesota," so it's clear which document you want to keep in force.

The New York Times

They would keep in force subpoenas issued to Joshua B. Bolten, the White House chief of staff, and Harriet E. Miers, former White House counsel, who have been held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify about the administration's firing of several United States attorneys.

The New York Times

When policyholders are young and healthy, term life costs relatively little to acquire and keep in force.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although he dismantled some of the centralized state machinery that Joseph had set up in the Habsburg domains, he kept in force Joseph's decrees that emancipated the peasantry and granted increased religious liberty to non-Catholics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Speaking just days after the shocking revelations that three women had been apparently kept in forced servitude for 30 years in south London, Begonia warns that "tied visas" could be subjecting thousands more to a life of modern slavery.

The Guardian

That both Corker and Cardin said the accord needs to be kept in force and policed is no small matter for the deal's prospects.

Huffington Post

These warnings were kept in force until late on September 14, when the warnings for Tinian were canceled and the typhoon watch for Saipan was canceled, while the typhoon watch was upgraded to a Typhoon Warning as Choi-wan rapidly intensified.

Wikipedia

Over the next two days the warning was kept in force while Tuvalu experienced strong to gale force winds because of a convergence zone located over the islands and Hina which passed about 55 km to the southeast of Niulakita, Tuvalu.

Wikipedia

If found insane, Mr. Breivik can be kept in forced psychiatric care for as long as his illness persists.

The New York Times

Before tipping motion, the ground support force keeps in positive.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering

App developers need to keep in mind that Force Touch is an alternative to existing gestures that work on the iPhone 6 for example.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep in force", ensure that the subject you are referring to is something that can logically be sustained or maintained, such as a policy, law, or agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "keep in force" for physical objects or actions that don't inherently possess a state of being 'in force'. The phrase is best suited for abstract concepts like rules or laws.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep in force" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the maintenance of a legal or authoritative status. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to emphasize that something should remain in effect, ensuring its continued operation or validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep in force" is a phrase used to emphasize the continuation of a legal or authoritative status, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and most frequently encountered in formal contexts like news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. The phrase's purpose is to assert the necessity of upholding a pre-existing condition or regulation. For alternative phrasing, consider "maintain in effect" or "sustain the validity of". When using "keep in force", remember it applies to abstract concepts like rules and policies rather than physical objects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain in effect

Replaces "keep" with "maintain", emphasizing continuous upholding.

sustain the validity of

Focuses on preserving the valid status of something.

preserve the effectiveness of

Highlights the continuation of something's active impact.

uphold the validity of

Similar to "sustain", stressing support for ongoing validity.

ensure the continuation of

Shifts the focus to guaranteeing an ongoing state.

continue in operation

Emphasizes the uninterrupted functioning of something.

hold good

A more concise and idiomatic way of saying something remains valid.

leave in effect

Focuses on actively deciding to allow something to stay active.

validate continuously

Stresses the act of verifying something's ongoing correctness.

ensure it is still effective

Targets the continuous impact and desired result of a process.

FAQs

How can I use "keep in force" in a sentence?

Use "keep in force" to indicate that a rule, agreement, or policy should remain active and valid. For example, "The company decided to "keep the policy in force" for another year".

What does "keep in force" mean?

"Keep in force" means to maintain the validity, effectiveness, or operational status of something, like a law or agreement. It suggests an active effort to prevent something from lapsing or becoming inactive.

Are there synonyms for "keep in force"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "maintain in effect", "sustain the validity of", or "preserve the effectiveness of" as alternatives to "keep in force".

What is the difference between "keep in force" and "put in force"?

"Put in force" means to enact or implement something, whereas "keep in force" means to maintain something that is already active or implemented. The former refers to the beginning, while the latter refers to the continuation.