maintain the ability

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "maintain the ability" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about the ability to do something specific, either for yourself or for others. For example: "The team leader works hard to maintain the ability of her team to complete their tasks quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

If trade partners fail to implement and enforce meaningful labor protections, we should maintain the ability to alter trade agreements.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I think we all know we want to maintain the ability to recruit a new coach," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

One was 'don't be pompous' and the other was 'remember humour and maintain the ability to laugh at yourself'.

The Guardian - Books

And he insisted that sheriffs maintain the ability to grant ICE access to jails to interview immigrants.

The New Yorker

This will maintain the ability of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to intercept the communications of those who would do us harm, says the official impact assessment.

The Guardian

"Anything we might do with Google would allow us to maintain the ability to compete in what is important to us," Mr. Yang said.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Dendritic cells from patients with pancreatic cancer maintain the ability to translate and process transfected RNA and serve as mature antigen-presenting cells.

Duke University

The patient can, for example, avoid being bedridden and perhaps regain/maintain the ability to ambulate independently.

Acta Orthopaedica

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are prototypical stem cells that remain undifferentiated in culture for long periods, yet maintain the ability to differentiate into essentially all cell types.

DNA Research

This suggests that stroke patients often maintain the ability to mentally simulate movements in ways that are consistent with the principles of limb biomechanics.

BioMed Research International

However, trinucleotide repeat tracts which are impure, but maintain the ability to encode poly-Q tracts, have less severe impacts on function in model systems.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain the ability", specify the ability you are referring to for clarity. For instance, instead of saying "they need to maintain the ability", specify, "they need to maintain the ability to adapt to new technologies".

Common error

Avoid using "maintain the ability" without context. It is important to clarify what ability is being maintained, as vague statements can be confusing. For example, instead of 'the company must maintain the ability,' specify 'the company must maintain the ability to innovate'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain the ability" functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence. Its primary function is to indicate the preservation or continuation of a particular skill, capacity, or competence. Ludwig examples confirm its usability in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain the ability" is a versatile phrase used to express the importance of preserving a skill or capacity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to specify the exact ability being referenced to avoid vagueness. Consider using alternatives like "preserve the capacity" or "retain the skill" to add nuance. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "maintain the ability" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preserve the capacity

Replaces "ability" with "capacity" offering a more formal tone.

retain the skill

Substitutes "ability" with "skill" emphasizing a learned competence.

sustain the potential

Uses "potential" instead of "ability", highlighting future possibilities.

ensure the capability

Replaces "maintain" with "ensure", focusing on guaranteeing the ability exists.

keep up the aptitude

Employs "aptitude" instead of "ability", stressing a natural talent.

safeguard the competence

Replaces "maintain" with "safeguard", emphasizing protection of the ability.

conserve the power

Uses "power" instead of "ability", suggesting a more forceful capability.

hold on to the faculty

Substitutes "ability" with "faculty", indicating an inherent power or talent.

secure the wherewithal

Replaces "ability" with "wherewithal", emphasizing resources or means to accomplish something.

uphold the proficiency

Uses "proficiency" instead of "ability", highlighting expertise or skillfulness.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain the ability" in a sentence?

Use "maintain the ability" when you want to express that someone or something should continue to possess a certain capacity or skill. For example, "It is crucial to "maintain the ability" to adapt to changing circumstances".

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

You can use alternatives such as "preserve the capacity", "retain the skill", or "sustain the potential" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "maintain the ability" and "improve the ability"?

"Maintain the ability" suggests keeping a current skill or capacity at its present level, whereas "improve the ability" implies enhancing or developing a skill to a higher level.

Which is more appropriate, "maintain the ability" or "retain the ability"?

Both ""maintain the ability"" and "retain the ability" are appropriate. "Maintain" suggests keeping something at its current state, while "retain" emphasizes not losing something you already have. The choice depends on the specific context.