keep it separate

USAGE SUMMARY

'keep it separate' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the need to keep two or more things distinct from one another. For example, "Make sure to keep your work and personal life separate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Just after a calf was born to an ordinary cow, an elderly lady, later identified as a witch, advised the herdsman to keep it separate from the other cattle, presumably after she noticed its deformed ears and suspected it was a water bull.

Wikipedia

"There's a practical question whether you could keep it separate".

The New York Times

"We want to keep it separate because it is a very exclusive product".

The New York Times

"At least while you're watching, it's hard to keep it separate".

The New York Times

We may put it in the tax code or we may keep it separate.

The Washington Post

At the same time, his siblings expanded the business, struggling to keep it separate from their increasingly infamous family member.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Rather than keep it separated, we need to bring it into rotation, so that that there is more land in the system and less is being used at any one time".

The Guardian

–Segregate trust property and keep it separated from the trustee's own property.

Forbes

His family knew Mr. Madoff had an investment management business, but Mr. Madoff had always kept it separate.

The New York Times

Most of the banks addressed climate change by limiting employee travel or energy use in their buildings, but kept it separate from the essential businesses of banking.

The Economist

There is no dispute that some involved with climate change have kept it separate from wider processes, for research, policy, and practice.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "keep it separate", be specific about what 'it' refers to. Clarity prevents confusion and ensures effective separation.

Common error

Avoid using "keep it separate" without context. Without specifics, the advice is vague and unactionable. Always clarify what should be kept apart and why.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep it separate" functions primarily as an imperative, offering advice or a command to maintain a distinction between two or more entities. Ludwig AI validates this usage with numerous examples across varied sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

27%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep it separate" serves as a directive to maintain distinction, offering practical advice across diverse scenarios. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples demonstrating its common usage in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific contexts. While grammatically correct and easily understood, the phrase carries an informal tone that may require adjustment for more formal settings. Understanding its communicative purpose and potential for over-generalization ensures its effective application. Remember to specify exactly what 'it' refers to when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep things distinct

Focuses on maintaining a clear and noticeable difference.

avoid mixing

Directly addresses preventing the combination of elements.

maintain a distinction

Emphasizes the act of actively preserving a difference.

keep it isolated

Emphasizes preventing contact or influence from external factors.

differentiate clearly

Highlights the action of making things easy to tell apart.

compartmentalize it

Suggests organizing items into separate, contained units.

maintain independence

Highlights the preservation of autonomy and non-reliance.

draw a line

Indicates setting a boundary to delineate different areas or responsibilities.

preserve the divide

Implies an effort to uphold a separation that already exists.

ensure segregation

Suggests a more forceful and deliberate act of separation.

FAQs

How can I use "keep it separate" in a sentence?

Use "keep it separate" to advise maintaining distinction. For example, "To avoid cross-contamination, "keep it separate" from other foods in the refrigerator."

What does "keep it separate" mean?

"Keep it separate" means to maintain a distinction between two or more things, preventing them from mixing or interfering with each other.

Is "keep it separate" formal or informal?

The phrase "keep it separate" is generally considered informal and suitable for everyday conversation or writing. More formal contexts might require a more precise expression like "maintain a clear distinction".

What can I say instead of "keep it separate"?

Alternatives include "maintain a distinction", "keep things distinct", or "avoid mixing", depending on the specific context.