maintain less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying a limit or threshold that should not be exceeded, often in contexts like measurements, budgets, or performance metrics. Example: "To ensure safety, please maintain less than 50% of the maximum load capacity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Prior to that, it was pretty easy to maintain less than 500 shareholders," said Adam C. Pritchard, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School.

The New York Times

As is presented in Fig. 8 the native PHS would clearly maintain less than 5%% of its activity in all tested solvents, while the activity could remain at least 70%% for the PHS nanogel.

Chemistry Central Journal

In (1974) he puts it this way: "In our account of how science might be acquired we do not try to justify science by some prior and firmer philosophy, but neither are we to maintain less than scientific standards.

SEP

2 Follow-up studies that maintain less than about 60% of subjects are considered insufficient to provide confident estimates.

BMJ Open

The fitting result reveals that the locations of minor peaks are more stable among species and maintain less than 1 kb while the location of major peaks tends to be proportional to the genome size.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The density of the cores is maintained less than 48 kg m−3.

Composite Structures

The static contact angle was remained greater than 150° and the contact angle hysteresis was maintained less than 15°. Figure 9 SEM images of carbon nanotube forests.

Micro and Nano Systems Letters

Using parallel computing techniques, the computational time is shown to be significantly reduced by increasing the number of processors while maintaining less than 1% error in mass balance.

Journal of Power Sources

Despite The American Bible Challenge debuting to record ratings for GSN, Beat the Chefs maintained less than a third of the viewers that tuned in to its lead-in.

Wikipedia

14 Unfortunately, in most patients, therapeutic anticoagulation is maintained less than a third of the time.

Core Evidence

In F98 cells, eight nanoparticle formulations enabled GFP expression in greater than 50% of cells while maintaining less than 20% toxicity.

ACS Nano

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain less than", ensure the context clearly defines what is being maintained and the specific unit of measurement or standard being referenced.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain less than" without explicitly stating the units of measure. For example, instead of saying "maintain less than 5", specify "maintain less than 5 cm" or "maintain less than 5 kg" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain less than" functions as a comparative expression, setting an upper limit or threshold that should not be exceeded. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct. It's commonly used to specify constraints in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain less than" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for specifying an upper limit or threshold. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is suitable for various contexts, including scientific, formal, and news-related content. While its frequency is uncommon, it serves a vital role in setting clear boundaries and ensuring compliance with specific standards. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is being maintained and the specific units of measurement involved. This guidance helps prevent ambiguity and promotes effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep under

Focuses on maintaining a value below a specific limit.

stay below

Implies remaining beneath a certain level or threshold.

ensure not exceeding

Highlights the act of making sure a limit is not surpassed.

limit to a maximum of

Specifies an upper bound that should not be violated.

hold below

Suggests actively holding something at a lower level.

constrain to less than

Emphasizes the action of restricting to stay below a certain value.

regulate to not exceed

Focuses on regulation to ensure a limit is not passed.

cap at

Implies placing an upper limit on something.

control to a ceiling of

Highlights controlling something so it does not exceed a certain level.

restrict to a lower bound of

Focuses on restricting something so it remains below a maximum specified level.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain less than" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain less than" to describe keeping a value or quantity below a specific limit. For instance, "We need to "maintain less than" 5% error rate" or "The temperature should be "maintained less than" 25°C".

What are some alternatives to "maintain less than"?

Alternatives include phrases like "keep under", "stay below", or "ensure not exceeding", which all convey the idea of not surpassing a certain threshold.

When is it appropriate to use "maintain less than" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in formal writing when describing specifications, requirements, or limits. For example, in scientific reports, business plans, or technical documentation, where precision and clarity are essential.

Is there a difference between "maintain less than" and "maintain no more than"?

"Maintain no more than" is often used interchangeably with "maintain less than", but it can sometimes imply a specific target or goal, while "maintain less than" simply sets an upper limit. Depending on the context, "maintain no more than" might suggest actively aiming for a value as close to the limit as possible, without exceeding it.