keep the place going

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep the place going" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the idea of maintaining or sustaining a location, organization, or situation. Example: "Despite the challenges, we need to keep the place going for the sake of our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"The swingers keep the place going.

The Guardian

Which may explain why there were not enough patrons left to keep the place going.

The New Yorker

And so they did, offering idea after idea to keep the place going.

The New York Times

"Whatever he asks us to do to keep the place going".

The New York Times

"How can you keep the place going at that level of staffing?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But even after the garden's miracle makeover, it's still a group of four or five friends who keep the place going.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But I could not hand out a subsidy sufficient to keep the places going, and the arrondissement could not, either.

The New Yorker

The Postal Service, using mules and helicopters, has kept the place going since 1896.

The Economist

Since then an expanding network of friends has kept the place going.

The Guardian - Books

"This is all coming at the expense of the people who kept the place going through the good and bad times," Mr. Berlingeri said.

The New York Times

With the privatisation of Australian railways, the subsidies that kept the place going were axed and now there's no one here bar the flies.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sustaining a business or community project, use "keep the place going" to convey resilience and ongoing effort. For example, "The community worked together to keep the place going after the disaster".

Common error

Avoid using "keep the place going" when describing personal motivations or internal processes. This phrase is best suited for discussing external efforts to maintain a physical location or organization, not abstract or personal endeavors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep the place going" functions primarily as a verbal phrase indicating an effort to maintain or sustain an establishment, organization, or operation. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is used to express the idea of maintaining or sustaining a location, organization, or situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep the place going" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the effort to maintain or sustain a physical location, organization, or operation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts but is also applicable in formal business and general conversations. When using this phrase, consider its appropriateness for describing external efforts rather than personal motivations. Alternative phrases such as "sustain the establishment" or "maintain the operation" may be more suitable for formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustain the establishment

Replaces "keep" with "sustain" and "place going" with "establishment", offering a more formal tone.

maintain the operation

Substitutes "keep" with "maintain" and "place going" with "operation", emphasizing the ongoing function.

support the business

Replaces "place" with "business", focusing on the economic aspect of keeping something operational.

preserve the institution

Changes "keep" to "preserve" and "place going" to "institution", highlighting the act of protecting something established.

uphold the organization

Uses "uphold" instead of "keep" and "organization" instead of "place", suggesting active support and maintenance.

ensure its survival

Focuses on the outcome of keeping something going, emphasizing the prevention of failure or closure.

guarantee its continuation

Highlights the assurance of something's uninterrupted existence.

finance the enterprise

Emphasizes the financial aspect of maintaining a business or project.

prop up the venture

Implies providing support to a struggling entity to prevent its collapse.

underwrite its future

Suggests providing financial backing to ensure long-term viability and success.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "keep the place going" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "sustain the establishment" or "maintain the operation", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "keep the place going" and "keep the business afloat"?

While both phrases imply sustaining something, "keep the place going" refers more broadly to maintaining a location or organization, whereas "keep the business afloat" specifically addresses the financial stability of a business.

What's a single-word alternative to "keep the place going"?

Depending on the context, words like "sustain", "maintain", or "preserve" can serve as concise alternatives to "keep the place going".

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "keep the place going"?

It's generally inappropriate to use "keep the place going" when referring to abstract concepts or personal endeavors. This phrase is best reserved for situations involving the maintenance of a physical location, organization, or established entity.