keeping not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keeping not" is not standard in written English and may be confusing to readers.
It could be used in a poetic or archaic context, but it is generally not recommended for modern usage. Example: "In keeping not with tradition, she forged her own path."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Mr. Jacobson was suspended from coaching for a time several years ago, but he was found to be guilty of only poor record keeping, not cheating.

The New York Times

He was praised for "keeping not just his job, but his reputation, at a time when all around him were losing theirs".

The Guardian

Since one of the main points of monuments is to remind us of the dead, the fact that most of us no longer know who Havelock or Napier were is an argument for keeping, not removing, their statues.

The Economist

"They're bloody marvellous, aren't they?" O'Shea is one of the few people in the world who have succeeded in keeping not only coastal but also deep-sea squid alive in captivity.

The New Yorker

"But he was mostly fixated on love and society, like he'd say our society is all about acquiring and keeping — not that it had stopped him from acquiring and keeping me".

The New York Times - Books

County Legislator Michael B. Kaplowitz, chairman of the board's Environment and Health Committee, stressed the importance of keeping not only the watershed pollution free, but also residential property in northern Westchester where residents receive their household water from private wells.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Being in markets where personal budgets are growing and where charities have no idea who may want to "buy" their services is keeping not-for-profit chief executives awake at night.

The Guardian

If you realize your friend is not worth keeping, do not ignore or avoid them.

WikiHow

Do you have any regrets about not keeping Cliff Lee? No, not really.

The New York Times

The record keeping is not always perfect.

The New York Times

Being a free-floating device, dynamic station keeping is not natural to most of the AUVs.

Ocean Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to emphasize an alternative action, consider using phrases like "instead of keeping" or "rather than keeping" for clearer communication. For example, instead of saying "keeping not X but Y", say "instead of keeping X, keep Y".

Common error

Avoid using "keeping not" as a standalone phrase. It often requires a contrasting element to make sense. Without the contrasting element, the sentence may become confusing. For example, prefer writing "keeping the focus on quality rather than volume" to "keeping not volume".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keeping not" functions as a conjunction phrase, often introducing a contrast between what is being maintained and what is being avoided or replaced. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction can be improved by using clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keeping not" is a conjunction phrase used to express a preference between maintaining one action or state over another. While examples appear across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Wiki as shown by Ludwig, its grammatical status is questionable, and it may require clarification for effective communication. As Ludwig AI underlines, to enhance clarity, alternatives like "instead of keeping" or "rather than keeping" are recommended. Be mindful of these nuances when choosing to use "keeping not" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintaining instead of

Emphasizes a decision to maintain something instead of another option.

preserving rather than

Highlights the act of preserving something over another action.

holding onto instead of

Focuses on the act of holding onto something instead of letting go or doing something else.

opting to keep

Highlights a conscious decision or choice to keep something.

choosing to retain

Focuses on selecting retention as the preferred action.

deciding to keep

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect of keeping something.

refraining from keeping

Highlights avoidance of the act of keeping.

avoiding to keep

Focuses on actively avoiding the act of keeping.

not keeping but

Introduces an alternative action or state instead of keeping.

instead of keeping

Directly replaces the act of keeping with another action or state.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "keeping not" to improve clarity?

Consider using phrases like "instead of keeping", "rather than keeping", or "maintaining instead of". These alternatives clearly indicate a preference for one action over another.

When is it appropriate to use "keeping not"?

While not standard, "keeping not" can be used when directly contrasting two options. However, it's generally better to use clearer alternatives like "keeping A instead of B" to avoid ambiguity.

What are some common mistakes when using "keeping not"?

A common mistake is using "keeping not" without a clear contrasting element, leading to confusion. Ensure you specify what is being kept instead of something else. For example, instead of "keeping not secrets", specify "keeping promises".

Is there a more formal way to say "keeping not"?

Yes, phrases like "opting to retain", "choosing to preserve", or "maintaining instead of" offer more formal alternatives, particularly in business or academic contexts.