keep surveillance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep surveillance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of monitoring or observing a person, place, or situation, often for security or investigative purposes. Example: "The security team was instructed to keep surveillance on the premises during the event to ensure safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

For that reason, it should come as no surprise that law enforcement agencies – thus empowered – have shown up at various Occupy protests armed with cameras, most certainly, to keep surveillance on protesters who are merely exercising their first amendment rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

Which is why less elegant but far cheaper balloons are now being used instead.Such blimps can keep surveillance and ordnance-guiding equipment aloft for a few hundred dollars an hour.

The Economist

The result would be a structure where each market would keep surveillance and enforcement functions for its own trading, while rule-making and regulation of member firms' sales practices and other activities would be overseen by a single self-regulatory organization.

The New York Times

Compression independence is an important requirement that is essential to keep surveillance systems independent of the compression algorithms used.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Government agencies have been gathering intelligence about individuals and large-scale events from social networks more frequently as part of their efforts to keep surveillance up to speed with technology.

TechCrunch

Government agencies have been gathering intelligence about individuals and large-scale events from social networks more frequently as part of their efforts to keep surveillance up to speed with technology.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Residents were given until Feb. 28, 2010, to vacate company premises while soldiers and the police kept surveillance.

The New York Times

Documents showed that the police kept surveillance on the league members' relatives as late as the 1980s to ensure that their children did not get government jobs, the panel said.

The New York Times

A "state of precations" was imposed, which decreed that local government kept surveillance on suspected troublemakers and, if necessary, order curfew, while special permits were required to travel through the town.

Wikipedia

In fact, one in 20 people admitted to already monitoring their partners; a third of whom keep this surveillance a secret from the person being watched.

Forbes

Notwithstanding, the monitoring of radioactivity in this region is needed to keep under surveillance the environmental contamination and radiation exposure and, in particular, for ensuring compliance with water quality standards and for ensuring the radiation protection of the public.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about security or law enforcement, use "keep surveillance" to convey a sense of ongoing vigilance. For example, "The police decided to "keep surveillance" on the suspect's residence."

Common error

Avoid using "surveillance" as a verb. The correct usage is to "keep surveillance", conduct surveillance, or maintain surveillance. For example, instead of saying "They surveill the area", say "They "keep surveillance" on the area" or "They conduct surveillance on the area".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep surveillance" functions as a verb phrase, specifically involving an action and its object. It is used to describe the act of continuously monitoring something or someone, as suggested by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

21%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keep surveillance" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that means to continuously monitor someone or something. Ludwig's analysis, based on numerous real-world examples, indicates that this phrase is most commonly found in news and media, as well as wiki and science. While not extremely common, the phrase is appropriate for professional and neutral contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. To enhance your writing, remember to use it in contexts involving ongoing vigilance and avoid misusing "surveillance" as a verb by itself. Alternatives like "maintain observation" or "monitor closely" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain observation

Emphasizes continuous and sustained observation rather than just keeping watch.

monitor closely

Highlights the act of close and careful monitoring, suggesting a more active form of surveillance.

oversee activities

Focuses on overseeing or supervising activities, implying a broader scope than just watching.

watch over

Implies a protective or guarding aspect to the surveillance.

keep watch

A simpler and more general way to express maintaining vigilance.

conduct monitoring

Highlights the execution of a monitoring plan, different from just keeping an eye on things.

observe constantly

Stresses the continuous nature of the observation.

maintain vigilance

Focuses on maintaining a state of alertness and readiness to detect potential issues.

supervise continuously

Similar to overseeing, but emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the supervision.

track movements

Focuses on the act of following someone or something's progress or location.

FAQs

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

You can use "keep surveillance" to describe the act of continuously monitoring someone or something. For example, "The intelligence agency decided to "keep surveillance" on the suspect's activities."

What are some alternatives to "keep surveillance"?

Alternatives include "maintain observation", "monitor closely", or "keep watch", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "keep surveillance" or "conduct surveillance"?

Both "keep surveillance" and "conduct surveillance" are correct. The choice depends on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey. "Keep surveillance" implies a continuous action, while "conduct surveillance" may imply a specific operation.

What is the difference between "keep surveillance" and "monitor"?

"Monitor" is a broader term that refers to observing and checking the progress or quality of something over a period of time, while "keep surveillance" specifically implies watching someone or something to gather information or prevent harm. You can "monitor activity" or traffic, but you "keep surveillance" on a suspect.