maintain the gap

USAGE SUMMARY

'maintain the gap' is a valid and usable sentence in written English.
This phrase typically suggests that two objects or people should remain separated, as in physical space, or social distance. For example, you might say, "Please maintain the gap of at least six feet between yourself and others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Peugeot retained their pace on Audi for the remainder of the race with Davidson and Bourdais also able to maintain the gap to their sister car with some metronomic yet quick and sustained stints.

The Guardian - Sport

It is momentum his team will be anxious to maintain, the gap between the three teams is marginal and Spa will prove a further, fascinating, sighting shot for the big one at La Sarthe in June.

The Guardian - Sport

I made a big effort to maintain the gap on the climb up the Col d'Izoard.

BBC

Commonly, spacers are provided between the fuel pins to maintain the gap between the neighboring pins.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Following a rest day, Wiggins entered stage 10 with plenty to do having struggled simply to maintain the gap to leader Nibali in the previous stage.

BBC

To maintain the gap at the desired length (2 cm), a Kessler suture was anchored within the proximal and distal ends of the remaining tendon.

Tissue and Cell

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Bundled diagonal reinforcement allows more internal space, enhancing workability and allowing simple construction, compared with code-specified diagonal reinforcement in which spacers are needed to maintain the gaps between separate diagonal bars.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

If the pace of national action is maintained, the gap will close.

The Guardian

We are forever assessing and maintaining the gap between ourselves and others.

The New York Times

Rosberg recovered to take second but once Hamilton had the front he maintained the gap of between two and five seconds to his rival with ease.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was a very interesting race, reasonably straightforward at the start, getting the gap with Nico, and we both got away, and then it was a question of maintaining the gap".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain the gap" in technical contexts, ensure that the specific units of measurement for the gap (e.g., centimeters, seconds) are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Do not use "maintain the gap" in situations where the type of gap (physical, conceptual, social) is unclear. Always provide sufficient context to ensure the reader understands what kind of separation you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain the gap" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "maintain" is the transitive verb and "the gap" is the direct object. It indicates an action taken to preserve a specific distance or difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and usable sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain the gap" is a grammatically sound and generally accepted expression used to convey the idea of preserving a separation or difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is valid and usable. Found most commonly in News & Media and Science contexts, its usage spans both physical and abstract concepts. While "maintain the gap" may not be an extremely frequent phrase, it serves a clear purpose in communicating the need to keep entities distinct, with a multitude of alternative phrases available to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preserve the separation

Focuses on the act of keeping things separate, emphasizing the state of being apart.

uphold the distance

Highlights the act of supporting or defending the established distance.

keep the interval constant

Emphasizes the consistency of the space or time between two points.

retain the space

Focuses on keeping the physical space or interval unchanged.

sustain the clearance

Highlights maintaining adequate free space or margin.

hold the margin

Emphasizes keeping a specific advantage or degree.

prevent convergence

Focuses on preventing two things from coming together.

ensure spacing

Highlights the act of making sure there is enough space.

keep apart

A more general phrase meaning to keep separated.

preserve the difference

Focuses on keeping the distinction or inequality between two things.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain the gap" to describe preserving a physical distance, like "It is important to maintain the gap between vehicles on the highway". It can also describe preserving a difference, as in "We must work to maintain the gap in quality between our product and the competition's".

What are some alternatives to "maintain the gap"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "maintain the gap" include "preserve the separation", "uphold the distance", or "keep the interval constant".

Is it correct to use "maintain the gap" in both physical and abstract contexts?

Yes, "maintain the gap" can be used in both physical and abstract contexts. For instance, it can refer to a physical space between objects or an abstract difference between concepts or groups.

Which is a better phrase, "close the gap" or "maintain the gap"?

"Close the gap" and "maintain the gap" have opposite meanings. "Close the gap" means to reduce or eliminate a difference, while "maintain the gap" means to preserve or uphold a difference. The appropriate choice depends entirely on the intended meaning. For example, you may want to "close the gap" between men and women's salaries.