maintain oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain oneself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the act of sustaining or supporting oneself, whether physically, emotionally, or financially. Example: "In order to thrive in a competitive environment, one must learn how to maintain oneself through discipline and self-care."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Pope Francis said it best, in his General Address at St. Peter's Square on May 1, 2013, "Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person... it gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, to contribute to the growth of one's own nation".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The work that goes into maintaining oneself for possible acting work is another theme of her Stories, as is her recent lack of acting work.

The New Yorker

Training in household tasks for the girls and men's work for the boys is through observation and gradually increasing participation until the techniques of maintaining oneself and family are mastered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Indeed, he is skeptical that Westlund's account can maintain its neutrality and contends that "[t]o hold oneself answerable, in any concrete situation, is to…to be disposed to apply in that situation some normative expectation to oneself" (Benson 2011).

SEP

Living with a chronic illness can be burdensome, and having to deal with pain, treatment adherence, and low energy level may increase the difficulty of taking the initiative to keep oneself busy, ensuring that one has enough interests on a regular basis (e.g., a hobby) to keep active, and maintaining positive thinking.

BMC Family Practice

A positive role identity and feelings of being useful provided by nurturing close social relationships can lead to greater motivation to take care of oneself and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

European Journal of Public Health

From that, they maintain, the movements to propel oneself will follow spontaneously.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, we hypothesized and continue to maintain that the perception of oneself, regardless of its content, was critical to health.

BMC Women's Health

So Kant had powerful motives to maintain that one does not know oneself as one is.

SEP

Guilt is an internal fear of punishment, while shame is a fear of external judgment, and often results in punishing oneself in order to maintain self-respect in the eyes of others.

Huffington Post

This disorder is characterized by intentionally starving oneself and failing to maintain a minimum body weight that is considered healthy for the person's age and height.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain oneself", consider the specific aspect of self-sustenance you wish to emphasize (e.g., financial independence, physical well-being, emotional stability).

Common error

While grammatically sound, "maintain oneself" can sound overly formal in casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "take care of yourself" or "support yourself" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain oneself" functions primarily as a reflexive verb phrase. It describes an action that a person performs on themselves, indicating self-sustenance or self-preservation. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain oneself" is grammatically correct, though relatively rare in usage. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for conveying the concept of self-sufficiency and providing for one's own needs. It is mostly found in a neutral to formal register, across various source types such as news, science, and encyclopedias. For more informal situations, simpler alternatives like "support yourself" or "take care of yourself" might be more appropriate. Remember to consider the context and desired level of formality when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Support oneself

Replaces "maintain" with "support", focusing on providing basic necessities.

Sustain oneself

Emphasizes the ability to continue existing or operating.

Provide for oneself

Highlights the act of ensuring one's own needs are met.

Look after oneself

Focuses on self-care and well-being.

Take care of oneself

Similar to "look after oneself", emphasizing responsibility for one's health and safety.

Be self-sufficient

Implies independence and the ability to manage without external help.

Keep oneself going

Focuses on perseverance and maintaining momentum.

Preserve oneself

Emphasizes protecting one's well-being, especially in challenging circumstances.

Finance oneself

Specifically addresses the financial aspect of self-support.

Endure

Focuses on withstanding hardship, implying a struggle for survival.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain oneself" to describe the act of providing for one's own needs or sustaining a certain condition. For example: "It's important to "maintain oneself" through proper diet and exercise."

What are some alternatives to "maintain oneself"?

Alternatives to "maintain oneself" include "support oneself", "sustain oneself", and "take care of oneself". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "maintain oneself" formal or informal?

"Maintain oneself" leans towards the formal side. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "look after yourself" might be more appropriate.

What does it mean to "maintain oneself"?

To "maintain oneself" means to provide for one's own needs, whether those needs are physical, emotional, or financial. It implies a degree of self-reliance and responsibility.