kept on hold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept on hold" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone or something is temporarily paused or delayed, often in the context of phone calls or waiting for a response. Example: "I was kept on hold for over 30 minutes while trying to resolve my issue with customer service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Interest rates should be kept on hold until squeezed real-term wages finally begin to grow to avoid choking off the fragile recovery, according to a leading economic forecasting group.

The Guardian - Business

When workers for the group that compiled the report -- the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the M.T.A. -- tested the complaint lines, they were kept on hold in one case by New York City Transit for more than 5 minutes and by the Long Island Rail Road for 14 minutes.

The New York Times

The doctors are easy to reach, patients are not kept on hold, and no one has to wait weeks for an appointment.

The New York Times

The UK housing market could see a credit boom like that of the early 2000s and see annual prices increase by almost 7% if interest rates are kept on hold in 2016, one of the world's biggest banks has warned.

The Guardian - Money

"We were kept on hold for several months.

Independent

The report said that official interest rates in most advanced economies should be kept on hold.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

"That whole shift I virtually didn't do anything except just try to get open and Brownie just kept on holding on to that puck, tiring the other guys out," Martinez said.

Los Angeles Times

The company powers a community site called #OnHoldWith, which tracks individual tweets ­– in all their visceral and hilarious glory – from frustrated customers kept on-hold across the globe.

BBC

Mean degree was calculated by species kept on holding for the categories that had ≥5 holdings in, for all map-based CP definitions and area-weighted tessellation.

BMC Veterinary Research

I kept on holding her, even when we were out of the water and on the pavement.

The New York Times

"He kept on holding me.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where something is temporarily stopped, use "kept on hold" to clearly communicate that it is in a state of suspension. For example, "The project was kept on hold due to funding issues."

Common error

Avoid using "kept on hold" interchangeably with phrases that imply a more permanent cessation. "Shelved" or "abandoned" suggest a project is unlikely to be revived, while "kept on hold" indicates a temporary pause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept on hold" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating that something is being temporarily delayed or suspended. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It often occurs in contexts related to waiting for a response or a decision.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept on hold" is a commonly used phrasal verb that describes something being temporarily delayed or suspended. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in various contexts. It is grammatically correct and suitable for neutral to professional settings, particularly in news, business, and academic environments. While alternatives like ""placed on hold"" or ""held in abeyance"" exist, "kept on hold" effectively conveys the idea of a temporary pause with the intention of future continuation. Be mindful not to confuse it with terms suggesting permanence, such as "shelved".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

placed on hold

Emphasis on the action of putting something in a temporary state.

remained on hold

Focuses on the continuation of the hold status.

stayed on hold

Similar to 'remained', indicating a continued state.

held in abeyance

Formal term indicating temporary suspension.

delayed

A more general term for postponement.

suspended

Emphasizes a temporary cessation.

postponed

Indicates rescheduling to a later time.

tabled

Often used in formal settings, like meetings, to delay discussion.

shelved

Suggests the item is put aside, possibly indefinitely.

on ice

Informal term indicating a project is temporarily stopped.

FAQs

How can I use "kept on hold" in a sentence?

You can use "kept on hold" to indicate that something is temporarily paused or delayed. For example: "My application was "kept on hold" due to missing documents."

What is a good alternative to "kept on hold"?

Alternatives include "placed on hold", "held in abeyance", or simply "delayed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "put on hold" instead of "kept on hold"?

Yes, "put on hold" is a very common and acceptable alternative to "kept on hold" with a very similar meaning.

What does it mean when something is "kept on hold"?

When something is ""kept on hold"", it means it is temporarily suspended or delayed. This can apply to projects, decisions, or even phone calls where you are waiting to speak to someone.