maintain surveillance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain surveillance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in contexts related to monitoring or observing a situation, often in security or law enforcement scenarios. Example: "The security team was instructed to maintain surveillance on the premises throughout the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

We can't maintain surveillance, so it's not worth getting mad.

The New York Times

At night, checkpoints at regular distances throughout Hargeisa maintain surveillance on diaspora youths and enforce cultural norms.

The Guardian - Opinion

To prevent parasites re-entering the country, the anti-malaria campaign is working with local and international partners to maintain surveillance and screening, it said.

The Guardian

However, you could imagine this sort of system being used to manage communications in a time of crisis or maintain surveillance in heavy weather.

TechCrunch

Only Abwehr (military intelligence) and police units were to maintain surveillance of such groups through informants and undercover agents.

Wikipedia

After the visit there appeared 20 motorcycles without plaques, cell phones which allowed for the state to maintain surveillance on the population, more police and military personnel, three new police cars, and three new judges.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

An officer, ever vigilant, was maintaining surveillance on the front porch.

The New Yorker

It also operates the International Ice Patrol, which maintains surveillance of icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The International Ice Patrol, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, maintains surveillance of icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One force behind the spread of hacking is the government's insistence on maintaining surveillance over anyone deemed suspicious.

The New York Times

This is a pretty complex question, but it seems that before WWI, the U.S. government took a formal position of neutrality whenever possible, even while maintaining surveillance on the activities of Indians in the U.S. who advocated for independence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using active voice constructions with "maintain surveillance" to create more direct and impactful sentences. Example: "The agency must maintain surveillance on potential threats".

Common error

Avoid using passive voice excessively with "maintain surveillance" as it can weaken the impact of the sentence. Instead of "Surveillance must be maintained", use "Authorities must maintain surveillance."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain surveillance" functions primarily as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of upholding or continuing observation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain surveillance" is used to describe the act of continuously monitoring a person, place, or thing. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts such as news, science and even wiki-based article contexts. While not as common as some alternatives, the phrase remains relevant in both formal and neutral settings. It's important to use active voice when using "maintain surveillance" to create a direct, impactful sentence. When a continuous effort is needed, "maintain surveillance" is appropriate; for a particular instance of observation "conduct surveillance" might be a better fit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue monitoring

Focuses on the continuation of an already existing monitoring activity.

conduct surveillance

Replaces "maintain" with "conduct", focusing on the act of performing surveillance.

monitor closely

Substitutes "maintain surveillance" with a simpler, more general term.

sustain reconnaissance

Replaces "surveillance" with "reconnaissance", focusing on gathering information.

keep under observation

Replaces the core phrase with a more descriptive term.

retain watch

Indicates keeping something under a watchful eye.

oversee monitoring

Changes the focus to overseeing the process of monitoring.

uphold vigilance

Emphasizes the continuous nature of maintaining watchfulness.

preserve oversight

Emphasizes preserving the act of overseeing something.

ensure observation

Highlights the act of ensuring something is watched.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain surveillance" to describe the act of continuously monitoring something, such as "Police will "maintain surveillance" on the suspect's residence" or "The health organization needs to "maintain surveillance" for any new outbreaks".

What are some alternatives to "maintain surveillance"?

Alternatives include "monitor closely", "keep under observation", or "conduct surveillance", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "maintain surveillance" or "conduct surveillance"?

Both "maintain surveillance" and "conduct surveillance" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Maintain surveillance" suggests an ongoing effort, while "conduct surveillance" implies a specific action or operation.

What does it mean to "maintain surveillance" in a healthcare context?

In a healthcare context, to "maintain surveillance" means to continuously monitor for diseases, outbreaks, or other health-related events to ensure public safety and effective response measures.