maintain a record

USAGE SUMMARY

'maintain a record' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to the act of keeping and updating a written record of information. For example: "It is important to maintain a record of all expenses incurred by the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

"There is a popular desire to maintain a record of not behaving like others on the continent in these elections.

The Economist

For instance, one such regulation calls for districts to maintain a record of every contact between a school lawyer and board member.

The New York Times

And the memoir, a kind of meta-diary, is her attempt to interrogate her obsessive drive to maintain a record of her existence.

The New Yorker

Kalou's target at present is to win silverware with Lille to maintain a record of trophies at every club he has represented.

The Guardian - Sport

The prisoners, who trained with a state biologist but also learned from one another, must compete to enter the program and maintain a record of perfect behavior to stay in it.

The New York Times

Under the original, no government agency in Arizona was allowed to "require or maintain" a record of "the identifying information of a person who owns, possesses purchases, sells or transfers a firearm" — unless he or she bought it from a federally license gun dealer.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

In that case the ledger maintained a record of transactions in the currency to ensure that updated records of who owned which coins were maintained and publicly verified.

The Guardian - Opinion

The National Crime Records Bureau of India, which maintains a record of reported crimes, lists 31, 973 crimes that were committed by juveniles in 2012, compared to 27,541 in 2002.

The New York Times

It has become a regular part of their calendar and Alexis Sánchez's first goal for the club, on a tense, difficult but ultimately triumphant night, maintains a record Arsène Wenger is entitled to cherish.

The Guardian - Sport

The C&C node maintains a record of all data IDs   8.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

This makes it perfect for backing up live projects and maintaining a record of your remote files.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain a record", specify the type of record and its purpose to provide context and clarity. For example, "maintain a record of customer interactions to improve service quality."

Common error

Avoid using "maintain a record" without specifying what information the record should contain or why it is important. For example, instead of just saying "we maintain a record", clarify with "we maintain a record of all financial transactions for auditing purposes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain a record" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating an action of keeping and updating information. This aligns with Ludwig's AI analysis, which confirms its usability. Examples show it used across diverse contexts, denoting the sustained effort to preserve information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

40%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain a record" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of keeping and updating documentation. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is widely applicable across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and professional settings. When using "maintain a record", it's crucial to specify the type and purpose of the record to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases such as "keep a log" or "preserve documentation" can offer alternative ways to express similar concepts. By providing clear context and purpose, you ensure effective communication when using the phrase "maintain a record".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep a log

Emphasizes the act of regularly noting events or data in a sequential manner.

keep track of

Highlights the monitoring aspect to ensure nothing is missed or forgotten.

document meticulously

Focuses on thoroughness and detail in the recording process.

preserve documentation

Highlights protecting existing records over time.

compile data

Refers to gathering information systematically.

archive information

Emphasizes long-term storage and retrieval.

retain records

Focuses on keeping records available for future use.

make an inventory

Highlights creating a list of items or data.

keep a register

Refers to maintaining an official list or record.

log data

Focuses on recording data in a systematic and chronological order.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain a record" to describe the process of keeping consistent documentation, like "The company must "maintain a record" of all safety inspections".

What is a more formal way to say "maintain a record"?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases such as "preserve documentation" or "retain records" as alternatives to "maintain a record", providing a similar meaning with a more elevated tone.

What's the difference between "maintain a record" and "keep a log"?

"Maintain a record" is a general term for keeping information, while "keep a log" implies a chronological sequence of entries.

Is it better to "maintain a record" or "create a record"?

"Maintain a record" implies ongoing upkeep of an existing record, while "create a record" means generating a new one. The choice depends on whether the record already exists or is being initiated.