maintain a stance

USAGE SUMMARY

"maintain a stance" is a grammatically correct phrase and is often used in written English.
You can use it to refer to continuing to hold a point of view or opinion in a situation. For example, "Despite the pressure to change his mind, he maintained a stalwart stance on the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedia Britannica

Procedia Manufacturing

The Guardian - Sport

Huffington Post

The New York Times

The New Yorker

The Guardian

The Economist

SEP

Vice

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This standard requires auditors to maintain a stance of neutrality toward their clients, and it further implies that auditors must be perceived by the public as being independent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cognitive framing addresses responders' decisions and actions to maintain a stance of process control to maintain robust, nominal operations, or cybernetic adaption to maximize resilience and recovery from degradation.

Procedia Manufacturing

United maintain a stance that there is no need to comment, even though the BBC was foremost among news organisations insisting contact has been made between Mourinho and the club.

The Guardian - Sport

But for one to deny that the Church is anti-gay in one sentence and then to maintain a stance against gay marriage in the next adds injury to insult.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

His opponents, who have maintained a stance they call "no guns, no government," say it does not.

The New York Times

Having maintained a stance of nonviolence through three decades of Mubarak's repression, the Muslim Brotherhood had broken this principle within months of winning the Presidency.

The New Yorker

Politicians and the media in Sweden have maintained a stance unique in Europe in shunning the Sweden Democrats, excluding them from political debate and directing fierce criticism at anyone who suggests that the country's asylum policy is a problem.

The Guardian

Mr Suleiman has maintained a stance of strict political neutrality, and has been careful to refrain from any statement that might be construed as critical of Syria or Hizbullah.

The Economist

As such, Zen maintains a stance of "not one" and "not two," i.e., "positionless position," where "not two" signals a negation of the stance that divides the whole into two parts, i.e., dualism, while "not one" designates a negation of this stance when the Zen practitioner dwells in the whole as one, while suspending judgment in meditation, i.e., non-dualism.

SEP

She maintained a stance of tolerance, as did I.

Huffington Post

But maintaining a stance – no matter how ludicrous it seems – and defending it with all the energy of a 20-year-old, instead of regurgitating what you think the voter wants to hear, just might.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "maintain a stance" when you want to emphasize the consistency and persistence of a position, especially in the face of opposition or changing circumstances.

Common error

While generally appropriate, in very formal or academic writing, consider stronger verbs like "assert", "contend", or "posit" to convey a more authoritative tone than simply "maintain a stance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain a stance" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. As Ludwig AI says, it refers to continuing to hold a point of view or opinion. This is demonstrated in the Ludwig examples, where subjects like 'United' or 'Mr. Suleiman' are described as "maintaining a stance".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain a stance" is a grammatically correct phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, used to describe consistently holding a specific viewpoint or attitude. While the phrase is relatively rare, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific articles. Ludwig examples demonstrate that the phrase is frequently used to convey adherence to a particular position, often amidst external pressures or changing conditions. When aiming for more formal contexts, considering stronger verbs like "assert" or "contend" might enhance the impact of the writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold a position

Focuses on having an established viewpoint.

uphold an opinion

Emphasizes defending an existing belief.

stick to one's guns

Idiomatic expression implying unwavering conviction.

stand firm on a principle

Highlights the unyielding nature of the belief.

preserve an attitude

Centers on keeping a specific feeling or manner.

keep a viewpoint

Emphasizes retaining a perspective over time.

defend a belief

Concentrates on actively supporting an idea.

retain an outlook

Highlights maintaining a specific way of seeing things.

hold fast to convictions

Underlines the strength and persistence of personal beliefs.

stand by a decision

Focuses on supporting a choice that has been made.

FAQs

What does it mean to "maintain a stance"?

To "maintain a stance" means to consistently hold and defend a particular opinion, attitude, or position, especially when challenged or under pressure.

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

You might say, "The company decided to maintain a neutral stance on the controversial issue" or "Despite criticism, she maintained a firm stance on her environmental policy proposals".

What are some alternatives to "maintain a stance"?

You can use alternatives like "hold a position", "uphold an opinion", or "stick to one's guns" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "maintain a stance" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "maintain a stance" is generally acceptable for formal writing. However, for a more impactful tone, consider alternatives like "assert" or "contend" in academic or legal contexts.