maintain the silence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain the silence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to emphasize the importance of keeping quiet or preserving a state of silence. Example: "During the meditation session, it is essential to maintain the silence to foster a peaceful environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Maryann Clesceri, the executive director of a Milwaukee center that serves sexual assault victims, said she and some fellow members of the archdiocese's community advisory board encouraged Archbishop Dolan to list every abuser because "to maintain the silence is to mirror what the perpetrators want".

The New York Times

And Schatten himself continues to maintain the silence he has held ever since he broke off his collaboration with Hwang last November.

Science Magazine

There, in the cool earth, surrounded by dark bones, my grandmother bore her first child, whose mouth was quickly filled with a fragrant nipple to maintain the silence that was essential: Death had a thousand ears!

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Rather, postmeiotic repression will maintain the silencing at the same level, or genes will be released from silencing.

Plosone

They maintain the silencing or low expression of many genes in ESCs, which are poised for activation in differentiated cell types [ 33, 63].

BMC Genomics

Gudkov and co-workers recently reported (also on line first) that p53, a tumor suppressor protein, recently renamed TP53, cooperated with DNA methylation to maintain the silencing of a large portion of the mouse genome.

Aging

First identified in Drosophila as genes necessary to maintain the silencing of homeotic genes, it is now evident that PcG proteins have many other targets (reviewed in Simon and Kingston 2009).

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

He maintained the silence Tuesday, though he chatted amiably with reporters on other topics before the game.

The New York Times - Sports

They all maintained the silence, played dumb with the bottom-line owners and toed the shortsighted union line during baseball's decade of denial, and shame.

The New York Times - Sports

Even the police officers who surrounded them maintained the silence.

Huffington Post

Dolan took over a diocese that was particularly lousy with pedophile priests and had to make repairs while still maintaining the silence.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain the silence" in writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being kept silent – is it information, noise, or something else? Clarity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain the silence" when simply describing a quiet environment. The phrase is best suited for situations where there's a deliberate effort to keep something unspoken or unknown.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain the silence" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used to describe the act of preserving or continuing a state of quiet or secrecy. As Ludwig AI suggests, its usage emphasizes the importance of keeping quiet or preserving a state of silence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "maintain the silence" is used to describe the act of keeping something unsaid or preserving quiet, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. This verbal phrase is generally neutral in register and is often found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While grammatically correct, it's important to use it in scenarios where active concealment or discretion is implied. Remember to consider alternatives like "keep the silence" or "uphold the secrecy" to best fit the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep the silence

A simpler, more direct way of expressing the same idea.

sustain the silence

Focuses on the continuation of an existing silence.

preserve the quiet

Emphasizes the act of keeping something peaceful undisturbed.

observe the silence

Suggests adhering to an existing period of silence.

uphold the secrecy

Highlights maintaining a state of confidentiality.

continue the quietude

Suggests the continuation of a peaceful and tranquil state.

prolong the quiet

Focuses on extending a period of calmness or inactivity.

hold the hush

Implies a deliberate act of keeping something quiet.

ensure the secrecy

Focuses on the act of making something secret.

secure the confidentiality

Emphasizes ensuring that something remains private and undisclosed.

FAQs

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

Use "maintain the silence" when you want to express the act of deliberately keeping something quiet or unmentioned. For instance, "The organization decided to maintain the silence regarding the ongoing investigation".

What's a good alternative to "maintain the silence"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "keep the silence", "uphold the secrecy", or "preserve the quiet".

What is the difference between "maintain the silence" and "break the silence"?

"Maintain the silence" implies keeping something unsaid, while "break the silence" suggests revealing something that was previously kept quiet.

Is it better to use "maintain silence" or "maintain the silence"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "maintain the silence" is more common when referring to a specific silence or a pre-existing agreement to be silent. "Maintain silence" can be used more generally.