maintain customs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain customs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of preserving or continuing traditional practices or behaviors within a culture or community. Example: "In order to foster a sense of identity, it is important for communities to maintain customs that have been passed down through generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"That's great, but they have a hard time with difference, people who maintain customs, dress, or religion that makes them appear different.

The New Yorker

As the Catholic Church has centralized authority in the Vatican and in the person of the pope, many Catholics have chafed as they want to maintain customs not in keeping with the Vatican's wishes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Developers for the past decade have been burned by Microsoft's lagging support for web standards, and forced to maintain custom versions of their site just to support IE5 and IE6.

TechCrunch

"Enterprise IT markets want a product that works, so they can focus on building applications, not on maintaining custom scripts and rewriting them for every version change.

TechCrunch

The EU's decision to cut customs for Ukrainian imports while allowing Ukraine to maintain current customs on EU imports might temporarily alleviate fears of domestic producers that unrestricted EU exports would overflow the Ukrainian market.

Huffington Post

It also abolished the right of individual states to maintain separate customs legislation and to issue their own currencies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They say they work hard to maintain native customs: the language, the care and respect for elders, the refusal to waste food like salmon.

The New York Times

What infuriates many, though, is that its adherents still maintain Jewish customs such as observing dietary laws and Jewish festivals as part of their claim to Jewish authenticity.

The Guardian - Opinion

It raises an interesting question – can Australian Muslims maintain their customs and traditions but still embrace and identify with the Australian way of life?

The Guardian - Opinion

I believed that providing women with the right to become warriors would broaden the tribe's perspective of their personal power, which could only help them fight to maintain their customs.

The Guardian - Travel

"The agreement to maintain a customs facility in Red Hook is terrific news for Brooklyn's only container port and for the 700 workers and many businesses that rely on its operations," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about cultural preservation, use "maintain customs" to emphasize the ongoing effort to keep traditions alive within a community.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain customs" in contexts where traditions are rigidly enforced without adaptation, as this can imply a lack of progress or inclusivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain customs" primarily functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating an action performed on a set of cultural practices. It reflects an ongoing effort, as seen in Ludwig's examples, where communities actively "maintain customs" to preserve their identity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain customs" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the act of preserving traditional practices. Although Ludwig indicates that it is not very common, the phrase appears across diverse sources like News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, suggesting its neutrality and wide applicability. Related phrases include "preserve traditions" and "uphold traditions", each with slight nuances. When using "maintain customs", writers should emphasize the ongoing effort and avoid implying stagnation. Overall, the phrase serves as a useful tool for discussing cultural preservation and identity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preserve traditions

Focuses more on active preservation than simply maintaining.

uphold traditions

Implies a sense of duty or obligation to keep traditions alive.

sustain cultural practices

Emphasizes the continuity and support of cultural activities.

continue time-honored practices

Highlights the age and respect associated with the practices.

keep up cultural heritage

Focuses on the heritage aspect, suggesting the customs are part of a larger legacy.

retain traditional ways

Similar to maintaining but emphasizes resistance to change.

observe age-old traditions

Highlights the act of following and respecting established traditions.

adhere to cultural norms

Focuses on conforming to established standards within a culture.

foster traditional beliefs

Implies promoting and encouraging the continuation of beliefs.

safeguard heritage practices

Stresses the protection and security of important cultural practices.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain customs" to describe efforts to preserve traditions. For example: "Indigenous communities often strive to "maintain customs" to keep their cultural identity strong."

What are some alternatives to "maintain customs"?

Alternatives include "preserve traditions", "uphold traditions", or "sustain cultural practices", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "maintain customs" or "preserve customs"?

Both phrases are correct, but "preserve customs" often implies a more active effort to protect traditions from disappearing, while "maintain customs" suggests keeping existing practices alive.

What is the difference between "maintain customs" and "maintain traditions"?

The terms are largely interchangeable. While "customs" often refers to specific practices or behaviors, "traditions" can encompass broader cultural beliefs and values. The choice depends on the context and what aspect of culture you want to emphasize.