kept beside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept beside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is maintained or stored next to something else. Example: "The old photographs were kept beside the family albums on the shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Olivetti employees also replenished a sheaf of typing paper kept beside it.

The New York Times

My host lowered himself on to the carpet and produced a Cyrillic copy of a 10th-century epic poem, which he kept beside his Qur'an.

The Guardian - Travel

In the middle of the night — much to the dismay of his wife, Marcey — he would wake up, jolted by a thought, and jot it on a notepad he kept beside his bed for such purposes.

The New York Times - Sports

It was kept beside every adult's bedside in the cult communes that Natacha Tormey grew up in – the cult's members practised "sharing" their partners with others, and believed that disinfecting themselves afterwards would prevent sexually transmitted disease.

Independent

Guston was as fond of George Herriman's Krazy Kat cartoons as he was of the Piero della Francesca postcard of the Flagellation of Christ that he kept beside him in his studio.

The Guardian - Arts

She reached her right hand onto a countertop for stability, as he would have reached for the hospital table he kept beside the bed, and swayed back and forth a few times, wobbling, the movement narrowing each time, until she stood fully upright.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

My tiny body is perched on the the top level of the step stool you keep beside the stove.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As an example, Bergeron described the ice water immersion tubs many teams now keep beside their practice fields in case a player is suspected of heat stroke.

The New York Times - Sports

"Think of 'The Complete Short Stories of James Purdy' as a 10-pound box of poison chocolates you keep beside your bed," he writes, "fairy tales for your twisted mind that should never be described to the innocent".

The New York Times - Books

Physicists (they read biographies too) might wish for a mathematical appendix: if so they should keep beside them a copy of Dirac's own 1930 classic, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, still in print.

The Guardian - Books

But picking up a telescope she keeps beside the bay window in her living room, less than half a mile from the border fence, she added: "But we watch them, and they watch us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing where something is "kept beside", be specific about the purpose or reason for its placement. This adds clarity and context to your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "kept beside". For example, instead of writing "The book was kept beside the bed", consider "She kept the book beside the bed" for a more direct and engaging sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept beside" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of maintaining something in a location adjacent to something else. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing the placement of objects for convenience or specific purposes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept beside" is a grammatically correct verb phrase that indicates maintaining something in a location adjacent to something else. Ludwig AI data shows that the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While not overly formal, it’s suitable for a variety of writing styles. When using the phrase, make sure to specify why something is "kept beside" something else to add clarity. Consider alternatives like "stored nearby" or "placed adjacent to" to ensure that it fits the writing context well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stored nearby

Focuses on storage in close proximity.

placed adjacent to

Emphasizes the physical adjacency of the items.

maintained close to

Highlights ongoing maintenance of proximity.

positioned near

Focuses on the spatial arrangement.

located close to

Emphasizes the location aspect.

stationed close to

Suggests a more deliberate and fixed placement.

held in proximity to

A more formal way of expressing nearness.

situated next to

Highlights the immediate adjacency.

preserved alongside

Indicates that something is stored or saved together with something else.

remained close to

Implies that the proximity has been maintained over time.

FAQs

How can I use "kept beside" in a sentence?

Use "kept beside" to describe the location of an object in proximity to another, for instance, "He kept a notebook beside his bed to jot down ideas."

What phrases are similar to "kept beside"?

Alternatives include "stored nearby", "placed adjacent to", or "located close to". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "kept beside" formal or informal?

"Kept beside" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the specific situation.

What is the difference between "kept beside" and "placed alongside"?

"Kept beside" implies a continuous state of being near something, whereas "placed alongside" suggests a specific act of putting something next to something else. The first emphasizes storage/maintenance, the second the spatial relation.