maintain talking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain talking" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not commonly used and may confuse readers; a more appropriate expression would be needed to convey the intended meaning. Example: "We need to maintain talking to ensure everyone is on the same page."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Abdul Rauf's answer was something of a departure from the message discipline his State Department sponsors have encouraged him to maintain — talking generally about America's openness to Muslims and very little about the tensions surrounding his project back in New York.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Thus, the difficult substantial issues at the core of the conflict, including acceptance that Israel's occupation of Arab territory it conquered in the 1967 Israeli-Arab War is illegal, have been constantly deflected in order to maintain talks without requiring Israel to face up to its obligations.

The New York Times

So I had to make sure we was getting enough oxygen, his body temperature was being maintained, talk to him, keep him comfortable and such.

The New York Times

But the hero in Catch Me If You Can is a young guy with a messed-up but loving dad who is just doing what he's been taught: maintain eye contact, keep talking and never tell the truth when a lie is so much easier.

Huffington Post

In fact, with his chumminess but carefully maintained distance, talking with Hanks is like having an afterschool talk with a really nice teacher.

The Guardian - Film

(FGD Men) Despite this loss of hope, there were a few FGD participants who maintained that talking about health workers performance on radio at least makes the public aware of the poor services.

BMC Health Services Research

While you're both talking maintain eye contact with him.

WikiHow

Make eye contact with your customers and maintain it when talking to them.

WikiHow

For all the changes, it is "critical to maintain" the "Talk to Chuck" theme, Ms. Garrity said, because it is "so memorable".

The New York Times

But he has said he would maintain peace talks with the FARC only if it unilaterally declared a ceasefire, a condition that would probably end the negotiations.

The Economist

Both Nigeria and Chad, which mediated the deal, maintain that talks to free the girls will proceed, and blame the attacks on renegade factions of Boko Haram.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal communication, rephrase it as "sustain the dialogue" or "maintain communication" to achieve a proper register.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain talking" in formal writing. It's not standard English and can make your writing sound unnatural. Always prefer more conventional expressions to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain talking" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the act of preserving or continuing a conversation. However, it is grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard, suggesting alternatives are preferable. The single example from Ludwig highlights its awkwardness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain talking" is considered grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. According to Ludwig AI, it is better to opt for alternatives like "continue talking" or "keep the conversation going". While there are a few examples from news media and wiki sources, these instances do not validate its correctness. For formal communication, phrases like "sustain the dialogue" are more appropriate. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid using "maintain talking" in your writing to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue talking

This alternative directly replaces "maintain" with "continue", focusing on the uninterrupted nature of the conversation.

keep talking

This suggests an encouragement to not stop speaking, or to persist in the conversation.

sustain the conversation

This alternative focuses on keeping the discussion alive and engaging.

maintain the discussion

This phrase more formally suggests upholding a particular level or direction of discussion.

pursue the conversation

This implies actively working to further the discussion and explore its topics.

hold a discussion

This option highlights the act of having a discussion, emphasizing the discussion itself.

conduct a dialogue

This phrase is more formal, suggesting a structured and purposeful conversation.

continue the dialogue

It emphasizes the ongoing aspect of an exchange, typically implying a formal or important discussion.

keep the lines of communication open

This idiom emphasizes the importance of maintaining an available channel for communicating.

preserve communication

This alternative indicates the act of protecting or saving communication from ending.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "maintain talking"?

You can use phrases like "continue talking", "keep talking", or "sustain the conversation" depending on the context.

Is "maintain talking" grammatically correct?

No, "maintain talking" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives such as "continue talking" or "maintain the discussion".

How can I use the concept of "maintain talking" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, replace "maintain talking" with more appropriate phrases like "sustain the dialogue" or "maintain communication".

What's a more natural way to express "maintain talking" in everyday conversation?

For everyday conversations, you can use "keep talking" or "continue talking", which sound more natural and less awkward.