needs to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

'needs to maintain' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something must be kept and sustained. For example: "The organization needs to maintain a level of trust with the public in order to be successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She needs to maintain her caloric intake.

The New Yorker

It needs to maintain the image of an energetic company.

The New York Times

It needs to maintain the drive for professionalism and learned skills.

The Guardian

Beith says the Commons needs to maintain the momentum for reform.

The Guardian

It also needs to maintain its long-term capacity to engage other naval powers.

The New York Times

For myriad reasons it badly needs to maintain functioning relations with America.

The Economist

Mortgage contracts contain clauses that stipulate that the borrower needs to maintain proper insurance.

The New York Times

"It needs to maintain the integrity of its technology, and control it".

The New York Times - Tech

Mr Lee needs to maintain the calm determination he has shown so far.

The Economist

Mr. Saleh may soon run out of the money he needs to maintain his followers' loyalty.

The New York Times

For him to trust you, he needs to maintain his reputation and ego.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "needs to maintain" when you want to express the importance of continuing something in its current state, especially when failure to do so would have negative consequences.

Common error

Ensure the subject of the sentence is clear. Avoid passive voice or vague references that could obscure who or what "needs to maintain" something. For example, instead of "Quality needs to be maintained", specify "The team needs to maintain quality" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to maintain" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating obligation or necessity. It signifies that a particular action or state is required to be continued or upheld. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs to maintain" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate a requirement or obligation to keep something in a specific state or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. The phrase functions as a modal verb phrase and is generally neutral in register. To ensure clarity, it is best practice to specify the subject responsible for maintaining the specified condition. Alternatives like "must preserve" or "should uphold" can be used to convey similar meanings, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must preserve

Emphasizes the act of keeping something safe from harm or change.

has to sustain

Highlights the need to provide support or nourishment to keep something going.

is vital to safeguard

Emphasizes the importance of protecting something from danger or threat.

should uphold

Suggests a moral or ethical obligation to keep something at a certain standard.

must keep up

Highlights the continuous effort required to maintain a certain level or standard.

should preserve

Suggests keeping something in its original condition for future use or enjoyment.

is required to keep

Focuses on a formal requirement or regulation.

is essential to retain

Stresses the importance of keeping something in one's possession or memory.

is obliged to conserve

Implies a duty to protect something valuable from depletion or waste.

is important to continue

Focuses on the value of persisting with a particular activity or state.

FAQs

How can I use "needs to maintain" in a sentence?

Use "needs to maintain" to express the necessity of upholding or preserving a certain condition or standard. For instance, "The company "needs to maintain" its reputation for quality".

What are some alternatives to "needs to maintain"?

You can use alternatives like "must preserve", "should uphold", or "has to sustain" depending on the context. These phrases all convey a similar sense of necessity.

Is it better to say "needs to maintain" or "has to maintain"?

Both "needs to maintain" and "has to maintain" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on stylistic preference or the desired level of formality.

What does it mean when something "needs to maintain" something else?

It means that it is necessary or essential for the subject to keep something in its current state or condition. For example, "The engine "needs to maintain" a certain pressure" indicates that keeping the pressure at that level is crucial for the engine's proper functioning.