maintain a balance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain a balance" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe making sure that different areas of one’s life, such as work and personal relationships, remain on an even keel. For example, "I have to maintain a balance between my job and my personal life so I'm not always working and neglecting my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We just have to try to maintain a balance.

The New York Times - Sports

Learning to maintain a balance between private and public life.

The Guardian

My job demands that I maintain a balance of athletic strength and muscular precision.

The New York Times

And how do you maintain a balance between sentiment and narrative?

The New Yorker

It's difficult, however, trying to maintain a balance between positive reaction and violence.

The Guardian - Music

Most important, MatchLive staff members also try to maintain a balance between men and women.

The New York Times - Tech

Israel's goal must be to maintain a balance between steadfastness and indifference.

The New York Times

"There is a huge number of gut bacteria which, in health, maintain a balance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To get the full $10, customers must maintain a balance of $10,000.

The New York Times

The fifth is for entrepreneurs to maintain a balance between their work and personal lives.

The New York Times

__My hope is that I maintain a balance between my priesthood and my writing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing personal well-being, use "maintain a balance" to emphasize the importance of prioritizing different aspects of your life, such as work, relationships, and health.

Common error

Avoid treating "maintain a balance" as a one-time achievement. Instead, recognize that balance is an ongoing process that requires continuous adjustments to adapt to changing circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain a balance" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as the predicate in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It describes the action of preserving equilibrium between different elements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain a balance" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of keeping different elements in equilibrium. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across diverse fields, including news, science, and academia. Its primary function is to advocate for or describe the action of preserving equilibrium, ensuring no single aspect dominates. When using this phrase, remember that balance is an ongoing process requiring continuous adjustments. Alternatives such as "strike a balance" or "preserve equilibrium" can be used to add nuance to your writing. Keep in mind to consider the specific context and field you're writing in to determine the best choice of words.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain equilibrium

Focuses on a state of equilibrium, often in a scientific or technical context.

strike a balance

Suggests an active effort to find equilibrium between conflicting elements.

preserve equilibrium

Emphasizes the act of keeping an existing equilibrium from being disrupted.

ensure even distribution

Highlights the equitable allocation of resources or qualities.

promote proportionality

Focuses on ensuring that different elements are in the correct proportion to each other.

achieve harmony

Implies a state of peaceful coexistence and mutual support among different elements.

foster equilibrium

Suggests nurturing conditions that allow equilibrium to develop and thrive.

regulate proportionality

Indicates active management to keep elements in the correct proportion.

keep things balanced

A more informal way of saying to maintain equilibrium or proportionality.

find the middle ground

Implies compromise and moderation to achieve agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain a balance" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain a balance" to describe the act of keeping different aspects of something in equilibrium. For example, "It's important to "maintain a balance" between work and personal life."

What does it mean to "maintain a balance"?

To "maintain a balance" means to keep different elements or aspects in a state of equilibrium or proportion, ensuring that no single element dominates or is neglected.

Which is correct: "maintain a balance" or "maintain balance"?

"Maintain a balance" is the idiomatic and more common phrasing. While "maintain balance" might be grammatically understandable, it lacks the nuance and established usage of ""maintain a balance"".

What are some alternative phrases for "maintain a balance"?

Alternatives include "strike a balance", "preserve equilibrium", or "ensure even distribution", depending on the specific context you're using the phrase in.