kept within

USAGE SUMMARY

"kept within" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English
It means to be confined or restricted to a certain boundary or limit. Example: The children were kept within the boundaries of the playground at all times.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We kept within our game.

The New York Times - Sports

They are kept within reasonable limits.

The Guardian - Books

They need to be kept within Kensington.

The Guardian

And the dynamic control is kept within acceptable limits.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Gun control is being kept within reasonable limits.

The New Yorker

Prices are kept within reasonable ranges to avoid arousing suspicion.

The Guardian - Money

In science, quarrels are to be kept within the family.

The New York Times - Books

Disputes are frequent, but most are kept within manageable limits.

The Economist

But those words are secrets, kept within her team.

The New York Times - Sports

Pressure drop is kept within 50 Pa for 2 g/s helium flow rate.

Cryogenics

Computations show that the temperature can be kept within reasonable limits in both three-phase reactors.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In social or political contexts, use this phrase to describe secrets or discussions that are restricted to a specific group, such as "kept within the family" or "kept within the party".

Common error

Avoid using "kept within" when "kept in" is more natural for simple physical locations without boundaries. For instance, you keep a book "in" a box, but you keep a variable "within" a specific range. Use "within" specifically when the limit or boundary is the point of emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept within" functions as a passive verb construction followed by a preposition. As seen in Ludwig examples, it typically describes a subject that is being restricted, limited, or contained by an external force or set of rules. The word "kept" serves as the past participle of "keep", indicating a state of being maintained, while "within" specifies the spatial or abstract interiority of that maintenance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "kept within" is a highly versatile and grammatically robust phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently employed in scientific and journalistic contexts to denote the strict maintenance of limits, whether those are physical boundaries, mathematical thresholds, or social confines. Its high frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and Nature confirms its status as a preferred choice for formal writing. Whether you are describing a budget that must be "kept within" certain limits or a secret "kept within" a group, this phrase conveys a sense of controlled containment and professional accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained within

Emphasizes the persistent state of staying inside a limit rather than the act of being kept there.

maintained within

Implies an active, continuous effort to ensure something does not exceed its boundaries.

contained within

Emphasizes the boundary itself as a vessel or container for the subject.

limited to

Directly addresses the threshold or maximum value allowed.

confined to

Suggests a stronger sense of restriction or an inability to leave the specified area.

restricted to

Focuses on the official or technical rules that define the limits.

held within

Often used for physical containment or when an entity is possessing something internally.

retained within

Common in scientific contexts to describe something being held inside a cell or container.

preserved within

Suggests that the subject is being protected or kept in its original state inside a boundary.

stayed inside

A more informal and literal description of physical location.

FAQs

How to use "kept within" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe staying inside a limit, for example: "The project costs were <a href="/s/kept+within+budget" target="_blank" rel="alternative">kept within budget."

What can I say instead of "kept within"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/maintained+within" target="_blank" rel="alternative">maintained within", "<a href="/s/confined+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">confined to", or "<a href="/s/limited+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">limited to".

Which is correct, "kept within" or "kept inside"?

"Kept within" is usually preferred for abstract limits or formal contexts, while "<a href="/s/kept+inside" target="_blank" rel="alternative">kept inside" is more common for literal, physical spaces like a house or a room.

What is the difference between "kept within" and "kept under"?

"Kept within" implies staying inside a range or boundary (like a circle), whereas "<a href="/s/kept+under" target="_blank" rel="alternative">kept under" usually refers to staying below a specific maximum value or being under someone's control.