keep promises

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep promises" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the need for someone to fulfill their commitments. For example: "If you want to build trust in your relationships, you must always keep promises."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Tribal leaders keep promises.

The Guardian

Statement: I keep promises I make to my friends or family.

The New York Times

Public bodies are expected to keep promises and the courts can make them do so.

The Guardian

The French were arrogant and failed to keep promises; Abu Dhabi was feeling slighted.The French moved quickly to soothe tempers.

The Economist

Longer term, Congress and the White House need to keep promises to take a deeper look at food safety.

The New York Times

Mr. Montebourg has since moderated his remarks, saying his objection was to "Mittal's methods," which he described as "failure to keep promises, blackmail and threats".

The New York Times

President Obama's budget proposal is a balanced way to cut the deficit and preserve necessary programs that keep promises and "win the future".

The New York Times

Companies also have to keep promises made to regulators at the time a trial began, like agreements to follow the health of study patients.

The New York Times

It asserted that Israel had failed to keep promises to ease restrictions on the movements of ordinary Palestinians hemmed in by checkpoints and blockades of cities and villages.

The New York Times

The British, facing Zionist terrorism and trying to keep promises made to the Palestinian Arabs to limit Jewish immigration, were determined to stop it.

The Guardian - Opinion

So is she really confident that the UK party will keep promises of further powers to the Scottish parliament in the event of a no vote?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "keep promises", ensure that the promises themselves are clearly defined and realistic. Vague or unrealistic promises are difficult to keep and can damage trust.

Common error

Avoid overpromising to appear helpful or agreeable. It's better to under-promise and over-deliver than to make commitments you cannot fulfill. Evaluate your capacity before making any promise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep promises" functions as a verb phrase, where "keep" acts as a transitive verb and "promises" serves as its direct object. This phrase is used to emphasize the action of fulfilling commitments and maintaining trustworthiness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep promises" is a common and grammatically correct expression emphasizing the importance of fulfilling commitments. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and wide applicability. It functions as a verb phrase urging accountability and trustworthiness. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various situations. To avoid overpromising, it's crucial to ensure promises are realistic and clearly defined, fostering trust and reliability in all interactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

honor commitments

Emphasizes the act of respecting and fulfilling agreements or pledges.

fulfill obligations

Highlights the completion of required duties or responsibilities.

stand by one's word

Focuses on the importance of truthfulness and reliability in keeping agreements.

deliver on pledges

Stresses the successful completion of promised actions or deliverables.

make good on commitments

Implies a successful effort to satisfy previously made promises.

act according to one's assurances

Focuses on aligning actions with previously given guarantees or affirmations.

remain true to one's commitments

Emphasizes the continuous effort to uphold and honor promises over time.

adhere to agreements

Highlights the importance of following and respecting formal or informal agreements.

carry out one's assurances

Stresses taking the necessary steps to ensure that guarantees are realized.

be as good as one's word

Emphasizes reliability and trustworthiness in fulfilling promises.

FAQs

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

You can use "keep promises" to emphasize the importance of fulfilling commitments. For example, "Politicians should "keep promises" to their constituents to maintain trust".

What does it mean to "keep promises"?

To "keep promises" means to do what you said you would do or fulfill the commitments you have made. It reflects reliability and integrity.

What can I say instead of "keep promises"?

You can use alternatives like "honor commitments", "fulfill obligations", or "stand by one's word depending on the context".

Why is it important to "keep promises"?

It is important to "keep promises" because it builds trust, strengthens relationships, and establishes a reputation for reliability and integrity.