keep in office

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep in office" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to maintaining someone in a position of authority or power within an organization or government. Example: "The committee decided to keep in office the current president for another term due to his effective leadership."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr. Obama now proposes to keep in office a Republican chosen by George W. Bush.

The New York Times

He received a humiliating rebuff on May 21st when the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, composed of regional leaders, voted to keep in office the country's top prosecutor, Yuri Skuratov, whom Mr Yeltsin wants sacked.

The Economist

Instead, we should look at the financial regulations and tax code put in place by people for whom we voted and keep in office, and the steady deterioration in national values that began almost half a century ago.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He is being kept in office only by the calculated mercy of Shas, the rigorously Orthodox party.

The New York Times

Those in highest authority have been kept in office (Dick Cheney), promoted (Gonzales, Condoleezza Rice), honored with medals (Tenet, General Tommy Franks, Paul Bremer), or sent off with encomiums (Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld).

The New Yorker

Mr. Gates was brought into the Bush cabinet in late 2006 to repair the war effort in Iraq that was begun under his predecessor, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and then was kept in office by President Obama.

The New York Times

This is a sequel to parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka in October, which kept in office the party led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, and to a meeting between Mr Prabhakaran and a Norwegian peace envoy.

The Economist

The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, who had served in the post under Bush and was kept in office by Obama, introduced an element of doubt to the president's insistence that all US troops will be gone.

The Guardian

It is career politicians in both parties that are kept in office by looting the taxpayer to benefit wealthy powerful corporations".

Huffington Post

"I have to be careful because of all the classified stuff I keep in my office," Mr. Hauer said.

The New York Times

In Pictures: What CEOs Love To Keep In Their Offices.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep in office", ensure the context clearly indicates who is being kept in the position and by what means (e.g., through election, appointment, or support).

Common error

Avoid using "keep in office" when referring to simply maintaining an office space or inventory. The phrase specifically relates to retaining a person in a position of authority.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "keep in office" functions primarily as a causative verb construction. It describes the action of ensuring someone continues to hold a specific position, especially one of authority or power. Ludwig examples illustrate the active effort involved in maintaining someone's incumbency.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep in office" is a phrasal verb that signifies maintaining someone in a position of power, typically in a political or organizational context. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media. While relatively rare, the phrase is most appropriate for neutral to professional registers, and its communicative purpose is to convey the active effort or intention to sustain someone's incumbency. When using "keep in office", be mindful of the intended nuance and choose it when you specifically want to emphasize the effort involved in maintaining someone's position.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain in office

Focuses specifically on the act of maintaining someone's position.

maintain in office

Emphasizes the continuous effort to keep someone in their current role.

sustain in power

Highlights the element of power and the effort to uphold it.

support the incumbency

Refers to actions taken to back an official who currently holds a position.

hold onto power

Indicates an effort to not lose existing authority.

uphold the position

Focuses on preserving the role itself, indirectly supporting the person in it.

secure another term

Refers specifically to winning another period of service in a role.

ensure re-election

Highlights actions to win another election, specifically.

back the leadership

Implies supporting the individual or group currently in charge.

preserve authority

Emphasizes the continuation of control or command.

FAQs

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

You can use "keep in office" to describe efforts to maintain someone's position, as in "The party strategized to keep the mayor in office during the next election."

What phrases are similar to "keep in office"?

Similar phrases include "retain in office", "maintain in office", or "sustain in power", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it better to say "keep in office" or "retain in office"?

Both "keep in office" and "retain in office" are correct, but "retain" often suggests a more formal or official context. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "keep in office" and "hold office"?

"Keep in office" implies an effort to maintain someone's current position. "Hold office" simply means to occupy a position of authority, without necessarily implying any effort to maintain it.