maintain the situation

USAGE SUMMARY

"maintain the situation" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to continue or keep the current state or condition of something. Here is an example: "After many hours of negotiation, the two countries were able to maintain the situation and avoid escalating tensions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Certainly, no service that puts its end users at risk can maintain the situation without change.

TechCrunch

Though these 4 additives were not found within detectable range in our samples, continuous monitoring is necessary to maintain the situation.

International Journal of Food Contamination

We met with senior officials at the Palestinian embassy and we will continue our endeavors to maintain the situation in Palestinian camps," he said.

Vice

There are excellent jobs available, and once people get a good job in the Commission or Parliament, they want to maintain the situation.

Huffington Post

In the paper entitled "Endometriosis and Nutrition: Analysis of Food Intake in Patients with Histologically Proven Endometriosis," B. Kaiseret al. showed that nutrition counseling can help to prevent endometriosis and to maintain the situation following surgery.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The ICJ then identify seven separate obligations for other states – in the context of these non-derogable rules – that include two negative obligations that states must not: one, render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation; and, two, recognise the illegal situation.

The Guardian - Opinion

This formulation will provide an explanation of factors that may have contributed to the development of the child's weight, and may be maintaining the situation, as well as identifying strengths and resources in the family.

BMC Public Health

He urged Congress to maintain the current situation, in which protection of consumers from unfair financial practices is the Fed's responsibility.

The New York Times

In closing the special envoy position and transferring its portfolio to a State Department legal department ill-equipped to handle it, Obama has sent a clear message that he intends to maintain the present situation at the prison indefinitely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Powell was also eager to maintain the present situation in which emergency teams of the United States Agency for International Development report to Andrew Natsios, the head of the agency, who in turn reports to Mr. Powell.

The New York Times

But even in the best of circumstances, assuming better-than-average flying weather for the rest of the summer, the new joint government-industry efforts are not expected to do much more than barely maintain the current situation against the ever-increasing number of airline passengers, either this summer or in the long term.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "maintain the situation" when you want to convey the idea of actively preventing a change in the current state of affairs. It's suitable for contexts where stability or preventing negative developments is important.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain the situation" when a more proactive approach is needed. This phrase implies preventing change, not necessarily improving or resolving an issue. Consider using verbs like 'improve', 'resolve' or 'transform' if you are looking for something that conveys proactivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain the situation" functions as a verbal phrase often used as a predicate in sentences. It describes an action taken to keep a state or condition from changing. As Ludwig AI's analysis suggests, this phrase implies active effort to prevent alteration.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain the situation" is a phrase used to convey the act of preserving the status quo or preventing a change in current circumstances. As indicated by Ludwig AI's grammatical assessment, the phrase is correct and, according to Ludwig's analysis, most commonly used in News & Media and Science contexts. While it is not extremely frequent, understanding its nuances and appropriate usage, such as actively preventing the undesirable change instead of solving a problem, can enhance your writing. Consider alternatives like "keep things as they are" or "preserve the status quo", depending on the context, to add variety to your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep the situation stable

This alternative clearly emphasizes the stability aspect, useful when the situation is prone to changes.

preserve the status quo

This alternative emphasizes the preservation of the existing state of affairs, often in a political or social context.

sustain the current state

This option focuses on the idea of supporting or upholding the present condition, often used in discussions about resources or systems.

maintain control

This emphasizes the aspect of being in charge and managing the situation, especially when things can go south easily.

keep things as they are

This is a more informal and direct way of expressing the desire to maintain the current condition, suitable for everyday conversation.

uphold the present circumstances

This suggests a more active effort to defend or support the existing conditions, implying potential opposition or challenges.

hold steady

This is a more concise and idiomatic way of saying "maintain the situation", often used in situations where stability is desired.

continue the existing order

This phrase indicates a desire to see the current system or arrangement prolonged, often used in institutional or organizational settings.

avoid escalation

This focuses on preventing a situation from worsening, rather than simply maintaining its current state.

keep the peace

This alternative is especially relevant in contexts involving conflict or potential unrest, where maintaining the situation means preventing further conflict.

FAQs

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

You can use "maintain the situation" to describe efforts to prevent a change in current circumstances, such as "The diplomats worked tirelessly to "keep the situation stable"".

What are some alternatives to "maintain the situation"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "preserve the status quo", "keep things as they are", or "sustain the current state".

Is "maintain the situation" formal or informal?

"Maintain the situation" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation being described.

What's the difference between "maintain the situation" and "improve the situation"?

"Maintain the situation" implies keeping things as they are, while "improve the situation" suggests making changes to make things better. They represent opposite approaches to a given set of circumstances.