maintain positive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain positive" is not complete and may not be fully correct in written English without additional context.
It can be used in contexts where you want to encourage someone to keep a positive attitude or mindset, but it typically needs to be followed by a noun, such as "maintain a positive attitude." Example: "In challenging times, it's important to maintain positive energy to keep the team motivated."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Retailers will look to the arrival of spring as a further opportunity to maintain positive momentum.

The Guardian - Business

Worsley, knowing that it was imperative to maintain positive thoughts, recalled family holidays and planting vegetables in the garden.

The New Yorker

The crash occurred because of "the pilot's spacial disorientation resulting from his failure to maintain positive manual control of the airplane with available flight instrumentation".

The New York Times - Sports

It also said the stability on Russia's borders was important "not least to maintain positive relations with the U.S. and Europeans".

The New York Times

"To maintain positive relations with the United States is essential — indeed, a key for China's macro long-term development drive.

The New York Times

"It's going to be difficult to maintain positive growth this year," José Luis Martínez, a strategist for Spain at Citibank in Madrid, told Bloomberg News.

The New York Times

Although the White House said it was keen to maintain positive dialogue with the Soviets they were left embarrassed by a leak detailing their contingency plans, should relations with East Germany become more hostile.

The Guardian

I want to maintain positive competition between players right up until the European Championships in 2012".

BBC

Consequently, it is important that nurses develop or maintain positive attitudes towards people with disabilities during their education.

Nurse Education Today

Resilient organizations are those able to undertake and maintain positive adjustment under challenging conditions (Cheng 2007; Van Gorder 2013).

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

"All parties concerned are working to maintain positive levels of progress," Bradford Bulls said in a statement.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain positive", always follow it with a noun (e.g., "maintain positive attitude", "maintain positive relationships") to make the phrase grammatically complete and clear.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain positive" without a following noun or context. It leaves the reader wondering what specifically you are trying to keep positive. Always clarify the object of your intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain positive" functions as a verb phrase that typically requires a noun to complete its meaning. As shown in Ludwig, it often introduces the action of preserving or continuing a desirable state or condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Cover Letter

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain positive" is a common and generally acceptable phrase that implies the action of sustaining something in a favorable state. However, it is grammatically incomplete without a noun. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Science sources. When writing, ensure to follow it with a noun to create a complete and clear phrase, such as "maintain positive attitude" or "maintain positive relationships". The Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase requires additional context to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustain a positive

Replaces "maintain" with "sustain", implying continued support to keep something positive going.

preserve a positive

Uses "preserve" instead of "maintain", suggesting an effort to protect a positive condition from change or decline.

uphold a positive

Employs "uphold", which indicates actively supporting and defending a positive state or quality.

retain a positive

Substitutes "maintain" with "retain", focusing on keeping or holding onto a positive attribute or condition.

foster a positive

Replaces "maintain" with "foster", suggesting that one actively encourages and develops a positive environment.

cultivate a positive

Uses "cultivate" to imply carefully developing and maintaining positive qualities or relationships over time.

ensure a positive

Shifts the focus to guaranteeing that a positive outcome or condition continues to exist.

keep a positive

A more informal alternative, using "keep" to express the continuation of a positive state.

promote a positive

Focuses on actively encouraging and advancing a positive condition or outcome.

support a positive

Highlights the act of providing assistance and encouragement to ensure that something positive continues.

FAQs

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

To use "maintain positive" correctly, follow it with a noun. For example, you could say "maintain positive attitude", "maintain positive relationships", or "maintain positive momentum".

What are some alternatives to "maintain positive"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "maintain positive" include "sustain a positive", "preserve a positive", or "retain a positive".

Is it correct to say just "maintain positive"?

While often understood, "maintain positive" is grammatically incomplete without a noun to specify what is being kept positive. Adding a noun clarifies the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "maintain positive" and "stay positive"?

"Maintain positive" implies an active effort to keep something favorable in place, while "stay positive" generally refers to keeping a positive attitude or outlook, especially during difficult times.