maintain support

USAGE SUMMARY

"maintain support" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when one desires to express the idea of providing ongoing sustenance or assistance to someone or something. For example: The government established a fund to maintain support for the victims of the disaster.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Momentum is a loose pressure group set up by supporters of Corbyn and is designed to maintain support for his politics in constituencies and build links with other protest groups around the country.

The Guardian

However, in a few places councils are fighting hard to maintain support.

The Guardian

This is the only thing that will allow them to maintain support".

The New York Times

To maintain support for their presence, coalition forces cannot dampen those hopes.

The New York Times

Washington acquiesced, since the faulty program was the only way to maintain support for the sanctions.

The New York Times

It is absolutely crucial that these efforts continue, and that donors maintain support for life-saving operations.

The Guardian

He encouraged the international community and regional neighbours to maintain support for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

Questioned by reporters, Coyne refused to be drawn on whether he would maintain support for Jeremy Corbyn if he won.

The Guardian

They tend to maintain support for reducing the deficit, but argue this should be done at a less aggressive pace.

The Economist

Underpinning all of this is the ongoing need for the Premier League's top executives to maintain support for the "collective selling" model that has served them so well.

The Guardian - Sport

They need to underline the importance of the work they do investing in community projects if they are to maintain support for their work beyond developing new homes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain support", clearly specify what or who is providing the support and what or who is receiving it to avoid ambiguity. For example: "The government must maintain support for renewable energy projects."

Common error

Avoid using "maintain support" when the intention is to increase support or initiate it for the first time. "Maintain" implies an existing level of support that needs to be sustained, not created or expanded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain support" functions primarily as a verb phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it signifies the act of continuing to provide or uphold assistance, resources, or approval. It's used to describe efforts to prevent a decline in existing backing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain support" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of ensuring continued assistance or approval. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for indicating sustained backing. It finds frequent use in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts. To ensure clarity, it is important to specify both the source and recipient of the support. Alternative phrases like "sustain support" or "retain backing" can be used depending on the nuance desired. When employing the term, writers should be mindful that "maintain" implies an existing level of support, distinguishing it from initiating or increasing such support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sustain support

Emphasizes the continuation of support over a longer duration.

Retain backing

Focuses on keeping the existing support or endorsement.

Preserve assistance

Highlights the act of safeguarding support from diminishing.

Conserve funding

Specifically refers to preserving financial support or resources.

Keep up assistance

Suggests continuously providing support without interruption.

Secure ongoing support

Highlights ensuring support continues into the future.

Uphold endorsement

Stresses the act of maintaining public approval or validation.

Foster continued support

Implies actively encouraging support to persist.

Ensure sustained assistance

Focuses on making certain that support is consistently available.

Prolong support

Emphasizes extending the duration of assistance provided.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain support" to describe efforts to continue providing assistance or resources. For example: "The organization is working to maintain support for its community programs."

What are some alternatives to saying "maintain support"?

Alternatives include "sustain support", "retain backing", or "preserve assistance", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to "maintain support" for a policy?

To "maintain support" for a policy means to keep the public or political approval for that policy at its current level, often through communication, adjustments, or demonstrating its effectiveness.

Is it better to "gain support" or "maintain support"?

"Gain support" is used when you are trying to get people to support something for the first time or increase the number of supporters. "Maintain support" is used when you already have a certain level of support and want to keep it.