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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
maintenance were conducted
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "maintenance were conducted" is not correct in standard written English.
The subject "maintenance" is singular, so it should be paired with "was" instead of "were." Example: "Maintenance was conducted on the equipment last week."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
Culturing and maintenance were conducted as described in previous studies, with suitable modifications[40, 41].
Science
Routine subcultures and maintenance were conducted in 250 mL serum bottles containing 50 mL of a modified DSM 640 medium [ 22] unless stated otherwise.
Science
Animal care and maintenance were conducted in accordance with the applicable portions of the Animal Welfare Act (2012) and the Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals (National Research Council 2011) and were approved by the NCSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
The maintenance was conducted at Malaysia Airlines' hangar at KLIA.
News & Media
On a basic level, maintenance is conducted on the infrastructure as reactive or proactive.
Preventive maintenance is conducted on the machine after a fixed period T.
When producing a pressure hull, periodic inspection, repair, and maintenance are conducted to maintain its soundness.
Periodontal maintenance was conducted every 3 months, and the implants have been in function and periodontally healthy for 2 years.
To avoid this situation, preventive maintenance is conducted on the machine which may be periodic or flexible (Xu et al. 2015).
The Super Hornets are serviced at the operating level by No. 1 Squadron technical staff; heavier maintenance is conducted by Boeing Defence Australia and other contractors.
Wiki
Each tank contained a mix of EWM and hybrid populations, but populations were kept separate within each tank with a mesh netting divider, and daily maintenance was conducted to ensure no cross-contamination of different populations within the same tank.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "maintenance" is singular, use "was" instead of "were". For plural actions, rephrase using a plural subject like "maintenance activities".
Common error
Avoid using plural verbs with singular subjects. The noun "maintenance" is singular, so pairing it with "were" creates a grammatical error.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "maintenance were conducted" attempts to describe the action of performing maintenance. However, it contains a grammatical error, as the singular noun "maintenance" incorrectly pairs with the plural verb "were". Ludwig AI highlights this error, suggesting revisions for grammatical accuracy.
Frequent in
Science
40%
News & Media
30%
Wiki
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Encyclopedias
5%
Reference
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "maintenance were conducted" appears in some sources, it is grammatically incorrect due to the subject-verb disagreement. "Maintenance" is a singular noun and requires the singular verb "was". As Ludwig AI points out, better alternatives include "maintenance was performed" or rephrasing the sentence to use a plural subject, such as "maintenance activities were carried out". Pay close attention to subject-verb agreement to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
maintenance was performed
Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular verb "was" to agree with the singular subject "maintenance".
maintenance activities were carried out
Rephrases the sentence to focus on "activities" as the subject, allowing for the use of "were" in a grammatically correct way.
maintenance operations were executed
Similar to the previous example, emphasizing "operations" as the plural subject.
servicing was undertaken
Replaces "maintenance" with "servicing", a synonym, and uses the singular verb "was".
the system underwent maintenance
Changes the sentence structure to highlight the object that received maintenance.
upkeep was administered
Uses "upkeep" as a synonym for maintenance, paired with the singular verb "was".
repairs were implemented
Focuses on the "repairs" aspect of maintenance as the performed action.
inspections were completed
Highlights the "inspections" aspect of maintenance as the action taken.
the equipment was serviced
Shifts focus to the equipment receiving the maintenance, using the passive voice.
preventive measures were applied
Emphasizes the "preventive measures" aspect of maintenance.
FAQs
How do I correct the phrase "maintenance were conducted"?
The correct phrase is "maintenance was conducted" because "maintenance" is a singular noun and requires a singular verb.
What are some alternatives to "maintenance were conducted" that are grammatically correct?
You can use phrases like "maintenance was performed", "maintenance activities were carried out", or "the system underwent maintenance".
Is "maintenance were conducted" ever acceptable in formal writing?
No, "maintenance were conducted" is not acceptable in formal writing due to the grammatical error of subject-verb disagreement.
What's the difference between "maintenance was conducted" and "maintenance activities were conducted"?
"Maintenance was conducted" refers to a general act of maintaining something. "Maintenance activities were conducted" specifies that various actions related to maintenance took place.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested