maintain yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is advised to take care of their own well-being or to uphold their personal standards. Example: "In times of stress, it's important to remember to maintain yourself and prioritize self-care."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

To be a worker you have to maintain yourself – and maybe your family.

Independent

"I had to maintain my daily living, and without mounts for jockeys, there's no way to maintain yourself at that point".

The New York Times - Sports

The 34-year-old: "Being one of the older lads, once you pass 30 years of age you have to manage yourself differently, maintain yourself, train more, train less, rest periods...particularly lads who have picked up injuries.

Independent

If you work in an expensive metropolitan area like New York or San Francisco, calculate how much money you spend to maintain yourself in that environment, and how much you spend on work-related items like parking, commuting, clothes and lunches.

The New York Times

The basic processes in a cell are simply chemical reactions, but organized in such a way that we get biological behavior, behavior like life, purposeful behavior -- the ability to reproduce yourself, the ability to organize yourself in space and time, the ability to maintain yourself.

The New York Times - Science

Basically, services that you used to host and maintain yourself, at your cost, are now available on the Internet at little or no cost to you.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"It's about maintaining yourself and keeping things clean".

The New York Times

"He's at that point now where he's finally figured out it's a 162-game grind," Braunecker said, "and there are certain ways you have to go about maintaining yourself during the course of a season".

The New York Times - Sports

I told him, 'Tony, you've maintained yourself, and your integrity.' " Taguba got a different message, however, from other officers, among them General John Abizaid, then the head of Central Command.

The New Yorker

"He's at that point now where he's finally figured out it's a 162-game grind, and there are certain ways you have to go about maintaining yourself during the course of a season," he said, adding, "He's ready to be the anchor of a staff".

The New York Times

It gives a good information about maintaining yourself.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "maintain yourself", be specific about the area of well-being you're addressing – physical health, mental state, or professional image.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain yourself" without context. Instead of simply saying 'You need to maintain yourself', specify what that maintenance entails, such as 'maintain your physical health with regular exercise' or 'maintain your professional image with consistent networking'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain yourself" primarily functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the action of maintaining is directed back to the subject. Ludwig shows that the usage of "maintain yourself" conveys an act of caring for or preserving one's own well-being or standards.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

31%

News & Media

28%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain yourself" is a reflexive verb phrase commonly used to advise or encourage self-care and upholding personal standards. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and wiki sources. While the phrase is generally neutral to informal in tone, it's most effective when the specific area of maintenance—physical health, mental well-being, or professional image—is clearly defined. It is more precise to give actionable maintenance advice, rather than using the phrase in isolation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take care of yourself

Focuses on overall well-being and health.

look after yourself

Emphasizes the act of providing for one's own needs.

sustain yourself

Highlights the ability to provide for one's basic needs and continue existing.

preserve yourself

Suggests protecting oneself from harm or decline.

keep yourself up

Focuses on maintaining a positive appearance and attitude.

manage your affairs

Implies handling personal matters and responsibilities effectively.

retain your composure

Emphasizes keeping calm and self-controlled, especially in difficult situations.

carry yourself well

Highlights the manner in which one presents oneself, often implying confidence and grace.

uphold your standards

Stresses the importance of maintaining moral or ethical principles.

ensure your well-being

Directly addresses the need to safeguard one's health and happiness.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain yourself" to advise someone to take care of their well-being. For instance, "In times of stress, it's important to remember to maintain yourself and prioritize self-care."

What's a formal alternative to "maintain yourself"?

A more formal alternative could be "preserve yourself" or "ensure your well-being", which suggests a more deliberate and protective approach to self-care.

Is "maintain yourself" the same as "take care of yourself"?

While similar, "take care of yourself" is a broader term. "Maintain yourself" often implies upholding a certain standard or condition, whereas "take care of yourself" can simply mean ensuring basic needs are met.

When is it appropriate to use "maintain yourself"?

It is appropriate to use "maintain yourself" when you are encouraging someone to keep up their current level of health, appearance, or performance, especially in the face of challenges or changes.