maintain distance between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain distance between" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express the need to keep a physical or metaphorical space between two entities or individuals. Example: "During the pandemic, it was crucial to maintain distance between individuals to prevent the spread of the virus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Mr. Soros steers clear of day-to-day management of ACT and keeps his distance from it and most politicians, partly for lack of time and partly to maintain distance between these groups and the official campaigns.

The New York Times

Bloomberg is to change its corporate policies to maintain distance between its news and sales operations, after a report recommended dozens of ways that the organization could keep reporters from using client information.

The Guardian

Many intended parents do feel uneasy at the idea of too much intimacy with their carriers and are willing to pay the hefty agency fees to "manage" the surrogacy and maintain distance between them.

The New York Times - Magazine

What is crucial right now is that Clinton must maintain distance between herself and the Charles Kochs and Robert Kagans of the world.

Huffington Post

One to six residues maintain distance between these regions, helping them interact with distinct regions on MAPKs [17].

Plosone

Aside from being a characteristic of the study population, this might be a characteristic of the target population as well, because pork producers in Ontario generally try to maintain distance between swine premises for biosecurity purposes.

BMC Veterinary Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Hunter's e-mail communications with the boy — aimed at dissuading him from abandoning track this past summer — were deemed a breach of the school's rules on maintaining distance between coaches and student-athletes, particularly the boy now known as Victim 1.

The New York Times - Sports

Tesla's Autopilot system alleviates a ton of this stress, maintaining distance between yourself and cars ahead of you, keeping you centered in the lane and also managing emergency braking should that be required.

TechCrunch

Nissan is also promoting its ProPILOT features here, which offer intelligent, hands-free parking, as well as SAE Level 2 features when driving on single-lane highways, including lane-keeping and maintaining distance between the car and vehicles ahead, with automatic acceleration and braking.

TechCrunch

In fact, the cytosolic centrosomes even appear to repel one another, an activity that could play into a mechanism to support a syncytial environment, by maintaining distance between nuclei.

Biology Open

This creates and maintains distance between the students and the instructor, which can make students feel alienated.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive relationships or volatile situations, use "maintain distance between" to emphasize the need for emotional or physical boundaries to prevent conflict or maintain professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain distance between" in overly casual settings. Simpler phrases like "keep apart" or "give space" may sound more natural in informal conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain distance between" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the action of preserving or upholding a separation between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, demonstrating its standard grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain distance between" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express the act of preserving separation, either physically or metaphorically. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase is most commonly found in news articles, scientific publications, and formal guidelines, suggesting a neutral to professional register. While not overly frequent, its usage is consistent and purposeful, often aiming to prevent conflict, ensure safety, or uphold boundaries. For more informal settings, consider alternatives like "keep apart" or "give space". The key is to use the phrase appropriately based on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep apart from

A more concise and direct way to express maintaining a separation.

keep a separation between

Emphasizes the act of actively ensuring a separation exists.

preserve space between

Highlights the effort to keep space intact and undisturbed.

ensure separation of

Focuses on the outcome of a complete and definite division.

uphold boundaries between

Implies maintaining established limits or borders.

remain distant from

Focuses on the state of being separate, rather than the action of separating.

sustain detachment between

Suggests actively preventing connection or involvement.

avoid closeness between

Directly states the intention to prevent physical or emotional intimacy.

prevent proximity between

Focuses on stopping things from coming too close together.

discourage interaction between

Highlights the prevention of active communication or engagement.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain distance between" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain distance between" to describe the act of keeping physical or emotional separation. For example, "It's important to maintain distance between yourself and negative influences" or "The guidelines require drivers to maintain distance between vehicles".

What is a more informal way to say "maintain distance between"?

In casual contexts, you could use phrases like "keep apart", "give space", or "stay away from" instead of the more formal "maintain distance between".

Is it always necessary to explicitly state "maintain distance between"?

No, depending on the context, you might imply the need for separation without explicitly stating it. However, using "maintain distance between" clearly emphasizes the importance of keeping a separation.

What's the difference between "maintain distance between" and "create distance between"?

"Maintain distance between" suggests that a separation already exists and needs to be preserved. "Create distance between", on the other hand, implies actively establishing a separation that didn't exist before. For example, you "maintain harmony between" two groups, and you might "create distance between" yourself and someone who is causing you stress.