maintain standards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain standards" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use this phrase to express that someone is upholding a predetermined set of guidelines or expectations. For example: "The teachers at this school work hard to maintain standards of excellence for their students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's how we maintain standards".

The Guardian

I simply have to maintain standards".

The Guardian - Books

And you had to maintain standards.

The Guardian - Arts

Still, in doing this civic leaders must maintain standards.

The New York Times

Governments, when they are solid, maintain standards in public life.

The Guardian - Opinion

But how will he maintain standards, spreading himself across multiple venues?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In an angry leader column, it insisted that public figures must maintain standards.

The Guardian

To maintain standards, the United States Golf Association governs new equipment.

The New York Times - Sports

There's more time to plan and make resources, and support is given to maintain standards.

The Guardian

"My belief as a headteacher is that Ofqual has simply failed to maintain standards".

Independent

Still, a theatrical pro was in place to maintain standards and foster innovation.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing quality control or regulatory adherence, use "maintain standards" to emphasize the ongoing effort required to keep performance or output at a defined level.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain standards" when the context requires improving or exceeding the current level. "Maintain" implies keeping things as they are, whereas "raise" suggests an upward shift.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain standards" functions primarily as a verb phrase followed by a noun. It describes the action of preserving a specific level of quality, performance, or adherence to rules, as confirmed by Ludwig. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain standards" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey the act of upholding established benchmarks. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is frequently employed across news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedic entries. Related phrases include "uphold standards" and "preserve standards", offering nuanced alternatives. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the intention of preserving current levels, rather than improving them. The phrase is primarily used to describe the action of preserving a specific level of quality, performance, or adherence to rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uphold standards

Focuses on actively supporting and defending existing standards.

preserve standards

Emphasizes keeping standards from declining or being lost.

ensure compliance

Highlights guaranteeing adherence to established standards.

enforce regulations

Stresses the active implementation of rules and guidelines.

assure quality

Centers on guaranteeing a certain level of quality.

secure conformity

Highlights obtaining alignment to prescribed norms or requirements.

guarantee consistency

Focuses on ensuring uniformity and predictability.

control quality

Emphasizes the managing and monitoring aspect of standards.

administer regulations

Refers to the procedural management of rules and standards.

oversee compliance

Highlights the supervisory aspect of ensuring standards are met.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain standards" to describe efforts to keep quality or performance at a specific level. For example, "The company invests in training to maintain standards of customer service."

What's the difference between "maintain standards" and "improve standards"?

"Maintain standards" means keeping them at the current level, while "improve standards" means raising them to a higher level. For example, one might "maintain standards" to keep a consistent quality, but "improve standards" to gain a competitive advantage.

What can I say instead of "maintain standards"?

Alternatives include "uphold standards", "preserve standards", or "ensure compliance depending on the specific context".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "maintain standards"?

It is appropriate to use the phrase "maintain standards" when referring to efforts to keep existing benchmarks or levels of quality and performance from declining.