maintaining at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintaining at" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly, as "maintaining" usually requires a direct object or a preposition that indicates what is being maintained. Example: "The team is focused on maintaining at a high level of performance." (This should be rephrased for clarity.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That would have meant maintaining at least civil links with the Labour leadership.

Independent

The nation's military, especially its brass, has a long tradition of maintaining at least the appearance of being apolitical.

The New York Times

The letter criticized plans for maintaining at least 300 wolves and 30 breeding pairs across the three states.

The New York Times

The Obama administration praised Canada for maintaining at least some military presence in Afghanistan until that date.

The New York Times

But the timing of the announcement highlights the importance of maintaining at least a show of unity on the climate issue, despite heightened tensions between the two nations.

The Guardian

Zane Lowe was less an interrogator than a hostage negotiator trying to process a series of outlandish demands while maintaining at least a veneer of normality.

The Guardian - Music

She and Christine wage a stealthy war, each trying to undermine the other while maintaining at least a minimum of professional decorum.

The New York Times

In an interview addressing a range of issues, he called the Bush Mideast policies "confused," saying Mr. Bush could not expect to achieve peace without maintaining at least low-level contacts with Yasir Arafat.

The New York Times

Each Winner will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining, at their own cost, throughout the trip, adequate insurance which is suitable to the proposed journey and itinerary from a reputable travel insurance company.

The Guardian - Travel

Richard Rhodes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Making of the Atomic Bomb," supports maintaining at least some of what he calls "the physical reality of that time".

The New York Times

At the end of the study, more than 45percentt of those who had received counseling were still maintaining at least 9 pounds of weight loss, an amount with clear clinical benefits, they noted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sustained levels or conditions, consider using more precise alternatives to "maintaining at", such as "maintaining a level of", "keeping at", or "sustaining at" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "maintaining at" without specifying what is being maintained or what level is being kept. Provide a clear and specific object for the verb "maintaining" to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "maintaining at 50 degrees", say "maintaining the temperature at 50 degrees".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintaining at" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition. It aims to describe the act of keeping something at a particular level or condition. However, Ludwig AI suggests it is not the best wording.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintaining at" is frequently encountered across various contexts, including scientific literature, news reports, and business documents. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically questionable and can lack clarity. While prevalent, especially in science and news media, "maintaining at" should be approached with caution. For precise and clear communication, consider alternatives such as "keeping at", "sustaining at", or specifying what is being maintained and at what level. Clear formulations enhance readability and prevent ambiguity. Improving your writing style and word choice leads to improved and more precise communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keeping at

Direct synonym; replaces "maintaining" with "keeping" for similar meaning.

sustaining at

Focuses on the act of keeping something going at a certain level.

preserving at

Emphasizes protecting and keeping something intact at a specified level.

upholding at

Suggests supporting or defending something at a particular standard.

conserving at

Highlights careful management to avoid depletion at a certain rate.

continuing at

Focuses on the ongoing nature of an action or state at a given level.

holding steady at

Implies keeping something stable at a certain point or level.

stabilizing at

Suggests bringing something to a stable level and keeping it there.

administering at

Highlights the organizational aspect of something

operating at

Specifies the level at which something is functioning or running.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "maintaining" in a sentence?

Ensure that the verb "maintaining" has a clear object. For example, instead of saying "maintaining at a high level", specify what is being maintained: "maintaining a high level of performance".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "maintaining at"?

Consider using alternatives such as "keeping at", "sustaining at", or "preserving at", depending on the specific context and intended meaning.

Is "maintaining at" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, "maintaining at" is considered grammatically questionable. It's better to rephrase your sentence to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

How to improve the clarity of sentences using "maintaining at"?

Replace it with a clearer phrase like "maintaining a level of" or "keeping at". Always specify what is being maintained and at what level to avoid vagueness.