maintain skepticism

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain skepticism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when advising someone to keep a questioning or doubtful attitude towards information or claims presented to them. Example: "In today's world of misinformation, it's important to maintain skepticism about the news we consume."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The reason to maintain skepticism of good times a-coming is that an economic recovery can – and is – used to package a lot of political snake oil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

My lab had an especially critical ethos, but this emphasis on questioning results and maintaining skepticism is very common in the U.S. Something is clearly wrong in a lab seminar if the speaker has managed to go through his talk without any interruptions; something VERY amiss if there are no questions even at the end.

Science Magazine

When people come up to him and assure him that he will win, he will maintain his skepticism.

The New York Times

We maintain our skepticism because the foreign policy of the United States in Afghanistan or Palestine has not really shown any change".

The New York Times

They maintain "some skepticism that it was Hezbollah as an organization itself, and not, for instance, Iran using individuals with some Hezbollah affiliation," said a senior security official in Germany.

The New York Times

In other words, most American children grow up in households that maintain considerable skepticism about evolution.

Huffington Post

In Los Angeles last month, Stabile had appointments all over town with film-production executives, but maintained a skepticism about the business.

The New Yorker

Earlier this month, during a hearing before another three-judge panel, the same two judges maintained their skepticism about Obama's immigration initiative.

The New Yorker

I suspect that the most vociferous antagonists of the allergic community won't understand just what it's like to live with allergies unless they themselves or someone close to them develops them, but I hope, for their sakes, that these people are blessed with the luxury of maintaining their skepticism.

The New York Times

Still, Bridgman maintained some skepticism about whether it was safe for us to infer real conceptual unity from such numerical convergence.

SEP

By maintaining his skepticism about certain gun control measures, he allowed her to depict herself as a stronger opponent of the National Rifle Assn.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encountering new information, especially in rapidly evolving fields like technology or politics, "maintain skepticism" to avoid accepting claims without proper verification. Check multiple sources and consider the potential biases of each.

Common error

Avoid applying skepticism indiscriminately. While it's crucial to question claims, excessive or unfounded skepticism can hinder progress and collaboration. Balance critical thinking with openness to new ideas and evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain skepticism" functions as a directive or recommendation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it encourages a continuous state of questioning and critical evaluation, prompting one to avoid accepting claims without proper scrutiny.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain skepticism" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that advises critical evaluation and questioning of information. As Ludwig highlights, it is found across diverse sources like news media, scientific literature, and online guides, underscoring its wide applicability. Although maintaining skepticism is valuable, be careful of overgeneralizing and avoid applying skepticism indiscriminately. Semantically similar alternatives include "retain a critical outlook" and "preserve a questioning attitude". Overall, the phrase is a useful tool for promoting discernment and informed decision-making, consistent with Ludwig's analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain a skeptical outlook

Focuses on keeping a general view characterized by doubt.

uphold a critical stance

Focuses on actively defending a critical perspective.

keep a critical eye

Emphasizes careful and judgmental observation.

sustain doubt

Emphasizes the continuation of a state of uncertainty.

preserve a questioning attitude

Highlights the act of continuously asking questions.

hold onto disbelief

Stresses resisting acceptance or belief.

cultivate a discerning mind

Highlights developing the ability to judge well.

foster critical thinking

Focuses on actively encouraging critical thought processes.

exercise caution

Stresses carefulness to avoid potential problems.

encourage doubt

Emphasizes the active promotion of uncertainty.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain skepticism" when advising someone to keep a questioning attitude towards information or claims. For example: "In an era of misinformation, it is crucial to "maintain skepticism" about news from unverified sources."

What does it mean to "maintain skepticism"?

To "maintain skepticism" means to continuously question and critically evaluate information, resisting the urge to accept claims without sufficient evidence or logical reasoning.

Which is correct, "maintain skepticism" or "maintain cynicism"?

While both involve doubt, "maintain skepticism" implies a reasoned questioning, whereas "maintain cynicism" suggests a distrust of others' motives. Use ""maintain skepticism"" when advocating for critical evaluation and "maintain cynicism" when referring to a general negativity or distrust.

What can I say instead of "maintain skepticism"?

You can use alternatives like "retain a critical outlook", "preserve a questioning attitude", or "uphold a critical stance" depending on the context.