maintained on task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintained on task" is not correct in standard written English.
You might be trying to convey the idea of keeping someone focused or engaged in their work or responsibilities. Example: "To ensure productivity, it's important that team members are maintained on task throughout the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Where individuals fall on this latter control dimension might impact the ease with which worry-related thoughts can be dismissed at will, when concentration needs to be maintained on task performance.

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In this task, attention was actively maintained on one of the surfaces, while ignoring changes in the other one.

Cerebral Cortex

On the other hand, if neglect patients were to show a decline in performance only on the spatial task and healthy individuals show no such decrement on either spatial or non-spatial task, then the specific interaction between responding to spatial targets and maintaining attention on task in patients with neglect would be unique.

Brain

The second task checks that fixation is maintained on the target for the specified time.

F1000Research

Using a longitudinal design, we tested the hypothesis that one such trait, negative urgency (the tendency to act rashly when distressed), predicts the onset of NSSI during the first year of college and a different trait, lack of perseverance (the disposition to fail to maintain focus on tasks that are difficult or boring), predicts the maintenance of NSSI during the first year of college.

Behavior Therapy

It is possible that musicians, due to their training, are better able to maintain focus on task-relevant stimuli, a skill which is crucial to working memory.

Plosone

This ideal state will be a trade-off between focusing on one task (attention) and yet maintaining reactivity so that other tasks can be entertained if and when necessary.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Only when you feel they are ready to maintain this task on their own, should you feel they will be able to keep up in their diapering duties.

WikiHow

Performance on a working memory task requires the co-ordination of a number of abilities: information must be accurately encoded into working memory, maintained and/or manipulated depending on task demands, and finally retrieved.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

It appears that the failure to maintain a task set occasionally on task switch and task non-switch trials stayed constant in children with 6 to 9 years of age.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Studies have found that children with deficits in pragmatic language displayed excessive talking, provided insufficient information upon responding, had poor turn-taking skills, and demonstrated difficulty maintaining topics and staying on task [ 11, 12].

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing continuous engagement in a task, replace the phrase "maintained on task" with stronger alternatives like "stayed on task" or "remained focused" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "maintained on task" in contexts where active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "progress was maintained on task by the team", use "the team stayed on task and made progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintained on task" functions as a descriptive element, often aiming to express the state of actively continuing or preserving engagement with a specific duty or activity. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction isn't considered standard in English writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "maintained on task" aims to communicate the idea of sustaining focus during an activity, Ludwig AI points out that it is not considered standard English. Therefore, alternatives such as "stayed on task", "remained focused", or "kept on task" are generally preferred for grammatical correctness and clarity. These alternatives ensure that your writing is both effective and aligned with accepted English usage. It's essential to opt for these alternatives, especially in formal contexts, to avoid potential grammatical issues. In cases of continued engagement, remember to use stronger, grammatically sound alternatives for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stayed on task

This emphasizes remaining focused on the task without deviation.

kept on task

This highlights the act of ensuring someone remains focused.

remained on task

Similar to 'stayed on task' but suggests a more persistent state of focus.

continued to focus on the task

This alternative explicitly states the continuation of focus, adding clarity.

persisted with the task

Implies a determined effort to complete the task despite difficulties.

maintained focus on the task

Highlights the sustained attention specifically.

sustained attention to the task

Emphasizes the sustained aspect of attention and engagement.

held attention on the task

Suggests a firm grip on attention, preventing distraction.

stayed attentive to the task

Focuses on the attentiveness aspect of task engagement.

remained engaged with the task

Highlights the active involvement and interest in the task.

FAQs

What does "maintained on task" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "maintained on task" is often used to mean keeping someone focused and engaged with their work or duties. Consider using alternatives like "stayed on task" or "remained focused" for better clarity.

What can I say instead of "maintained on task"?

You can use alternatives like "stayed on task", "kept on task", or "remained focused" depending on the context.

Is "maintained on task" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "maintained on task" is not correct in standard written English. It is advisable to use alternatives such as "stayed on task" or "remained on task".

Which is better, "maintained on task" or "stayed on task"?

"Stayed on task" is generally preferred over "maintained on task" as it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It clearly conveys the idea of continuing to focus on a task.