maintained him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintained him" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in standard written English.
It could be used in a context where someone is discussing the upkeep or support of a person, but it is not a common expression. Example: "She maintained him through his difficult times, providing emotional and financial support."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He believes that the tried-and-true technique that has maintained him in power will work again: deceive and resist, shift the burden of proof, concede enough to prevent attack, divide and delay.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But Mr. Santorum appears determined to stay in the race and has $1.5 million, enough to maintain him for a while.

The New York Times

With just two weeks until Baltimore, he will not be able to train his Big Bay but merely maintain him.

The New York Times

The narrator, accordingly, gazes at a figure sitting "sturdily astride of his huge bronze horse on the high pedestal on which Venetian gratitude maintains him".

The Guardian - Books

Although he remained critical of the Jewish Refugees Committee for its failure to maintain him after that, the historian in him acknowledged that this body was a rescue operation and not equipped to advance careers.

The Guardian - Books

During this time, too, he became friendly with Caroline of Ansbach, the princess of Wales, who was to help maintain him in power when her husband succeeded to the throne in 1727 as George II.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We tried to keep both the integrity of the character and the accuracy with regard to Asperger's and also maintain him as a viable romantic possibility," Mr. Mayer said.

The New York Times

A man must always live by his work, and his wages must at least be sufficient to maintain him.

Huffington Post

The idea of the Cuban authorities and Castro's family is to maintain him alive and far from public view, the doctor said.

Huffington Post

To see whether he can breathe on his own and, if he does, to hand his care over to those who want to maintain him indefinitely?

Critical Care

Despite several efforts by the psychiatrist in charge of that patient to maintain him in the study, he withdrew the consent and dropped out.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to supporting a person, use more common phrases such as "supported him" or "cared for him" instead of "maintained him" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "maintained him" when you mean to say someone provided support. This phrasing sounds unnatural and is not widely recognized as standard English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintained him" functions as a verb phrase where "maintained" is the verb and "him" is the object. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not the most natural or correct way to express the idea of supporting someone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "maintained him" is technically grammatically structured, it is not considered standard or natural English phrasing for expressing support. Ludwig AI analysis suggests it's better to use alternatives like "supported him", "sustained him", or "cared for him" depending on the intended context. This phrase appears rarely and when it does, the quality and correctness are questionable. It's advisable to opt for more common and accepted phrases to ensure clarity and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supported him

Focuses on providing assistance and resources.

sustained him

Implies providing what was needed to continue living or existing.

kept him going

Highlights the act of enabling someone to persevere.

financed him

Emphasizes the financial aspect of support.

provided for him

Suggests ensuring someone's needs are met.

cared for him

Highlights the nurturing and attentive aspect of support.

looked after him

Implies protective oversight and care.

provided him with

Similar to 'provided for him' but allows for a more specific object of provision.

preserved him

Emphasizes keeping someone or something in its original state; a semantic stretch in most 'maintain' contexts.

upheld him

Indicates providing moral or ethical support.

FAQs

How can I use "maintained him" correctly in a sentence?

While not recommended, "maintained him" could be used in contexts where someone is providing long-term support or upkeep. However, it's better to use alternatives like "supported him" or "sustained him" for clarity.

What are better alternatives to "maintained him"?

Consider using phrases such as "cared for him", "provided for him", or "looked after him" depending on the specific context of support.

Is it grammatically correct to say "maintained him"?

The phrase "maintained him" is grammatically unusual and may not be readily understood. Standard English prefers formulations such as "he was maintained" or "they maintained contact with him".

What is the difference between "maintained him" and "supported him"?

"Supported him" is a more common and clearer way to express that someone provided assistance or resources to another person. "Maintained him" sounds unnatural and is not a typical way to describe providing support. Using "supported him" is almost always preferable.