keep on hold for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep on hold for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone should remain in a state of waiting for something to happen. For example: "Please keep on hold for the next available customer service representative."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We were kept on hold for several months.

Independent

But on Monday evening, a reporter who called Hope Now was kept on hold for 50 minutes before hanging up.

The New York Times

As a result, customers are being kept on hold for ages or asked to wait in long queues.

The Guardian - Money

When he had completed his year, the paddling was kept on hold for a further six months while he worked in an accident and emergency department on Jersey.

The Guardian - Sport

Falling inflation and the prospect of official interest rates being kept on hold for longer sent the government's benchmark measure of borrowing costs tumbling to an all-time low on Thursday.

The Guardian - Business

At its latest policy meeting in December, the Fed dropped its insistence that rates would be kept on hold for a "considerable period", replacing it with the message that it could be "patient" about policy changes.

The Guardian - Business

IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer said rates could be kept on hold for the rest of the year as fears faded that the government rescue package would trigger a bout of inflation.

The Guardian - Business

The two sides first had to agree to the program's details before testing could begin, and the testing was kept on hold for three full seasons while the NFL and the union remained at odds over those details.

The Washington Post

It is often the little things which set us off: being kept on hold for 10 minutes by a stroppy call centre assistant, coming back from holiday and finding someone has stolen your stapler, the photocopier chewing up your carefully prepared handouts moments before a big meeting.

The Guardian - Money

In the first six months of the current financial year, some 6.5 million people were kept on hold for longer than 10 minutes - a quarter of all callers.

BBC

We tried to phone the helpline but were kept on hold for most of the night and two hours this morning.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to wait, ensure clarity about the expected duration or next steps. For example, instead of saying "Please "keep on hold for" a moment", specify "Please "keep on hold for" approximately five minutes while I retrieve your information".

Common error

While "keep on hold" is acceptable, overuse can sound repetitive. Try alternatives such as "wait briefly" or "hold the line" to vary your language and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep on hold for" functions primarily as a phrasal verb used to instruct someone to remain waiting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase suggests a temporary suspension before a connection or action resumes.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep on hold for" is a phrasal verb used to instruct someone to wait, commonly employed in customer service scenarios. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct. While the phrase itself is neutral, it's important to provide context regarding the expected duration. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives such as "wait briefly" or "hold the line". Although examples of the phrase are currently absent in the provided search results, this analysis clarifies its function, purpose, and appropriate usage, together with related alternatives. This information helps to improve clarity and concision in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain on standby for

Emphasizes readiness and immediate availability if required.

leave in abeyance for

Suggests a temporary suspension of activity or decision.

keep in reserve for

Highlights the act of preserving something for future use.

put on ice for

Implies delaying action or decision until a later time.

hold in readiness for

Stresses being prepared and equipped for a specific purpose.

suspend temporarily for

Focuses on the act of pausing or interrupting something.

defer consideration for

Highlights the postponement of a decision or deliberation.

shelve for the moment for

Suggests putting something aside, possibly indefinitely.

table for future discussion for

Implies setting aside a topic for a discussion in future.

delay action on for

Emphasizes postponing a decision or task until a later date.

FAQs

How can I use "keep on hold for" in a sentence?

You can use "keep on hold for" to instruct someone to wait, such as "Please "keep on hold for" a representative to assist you" or "Can you "keep on hold for" a moment while I check your account details?".

What can I say instead of "keep on hold for"?

You can use alternatives like "wait briefly", "hold the line", or "please wait", depending on the context.

Is it more polite to say "keep on hold" or "hold the line"?

"Hold the line" and "keep on hold" are generally similar in politeness. Some might find "hold the line" slightly more traditional, while "keep on hold" is more straightforward. The best choice depends on the specific context and your audience.

Which is correct, "keep on hold" or "be on hold"?

"Keep on hold" implies instructing someone to wait. "Be on hold" describes the state of waiting. For example, you would say "Please "keep on hold for" a moment", and "I will be on hold until someone answers".