remain cautious when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remain cautious when" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when advising someone to be careful in a specific situation. Example: "You should remain cautious when driving in bad weather." Alternative expressions include "stay alert when," "be careful when," and "exercise caution when."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Moderators exhibit efficiency of time usage, encourage respondents to reply, and remain cautious when supplying participants with information about the topic or agenda.

Britannica

In the case of TLR4 and TLR9 agonists, the recommendation is to remain cautious when considering their roles in anti-glioma therapies.

Protein & Cell

Regarding our current knowledge concerning this procedure, one should remain cautious when delivering information to patients and their family at the time of cryopreservation, in terms of puberty induction and potential risks for children.

Plosone

Clinicians should remain cautious when triaging DENV-HIV patients at first presentation, and close monitoring of these patients should be recommended as part of dengue clinical care and management.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

However, we must remain cautious when we have a diagnosis of isolated SUA in the first trimester, as there are fetal abnormalities that cannot be displayed, often because anatomical development has not yet been completed or because of the technique's limitations.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This indicates that businesses remained cautious when making decisions to buy expensive equipment.

Forbes

It's tough to blame CIOs and security leaders for remaining cautious when well-intentioned patches unleash unintended — and nasty — consequences.

TechCrunch

This meant a lot of work, but we felt revitalized, though we remained cautious when outside our houses, never knowing if we could be recognized or targeted in some way.

Vice

Mr. Viniar said the firm was pleased with the performance of all its businesses but remained cautious about when stock trading and merger activity would rebound.

The New York Times

The banks remained cautious even when Mr. da Silva used his Washington trip to announce his nominee for finance minister, Antonio Palocci, a close adviser who is expected to continue the market-friendly policies of the current administration.

The New York Times

"Remain cautious," it advised.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with specific actions or procedures to give clear, actionable advice rather than vague warnings.

Common error

Avoid using the adverbial form 'remain cautiously when'. Because 'remain' functions here as a linking verb, it must be followed by the adjective 'cautious' to describe the subject's state, not an adverb to describe the verb itself.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "remain" acts as a linking verb (copula) connecting the subject to the subject complement "cautious", which is an adjective. The word "when" functions as a subordinating conjunction that introduces a temporal dependent clause. Ludwig AI confirms this structure as a standard way to provide conditional advice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "remain cautious when" is a highly reliable and grammatically sound phrase used to advocate for vigilance and careful judgment. Ludwig data reveals that while the exact four-word string is relatively rare compared to shorter variations, it is preferred by top-tier journalistic and scientific sources for its precision. It effectively signals that a situation requires ongoing care rather than just a momentary check. Writers should favor this phrase in professional contexts to maintain a tone of objective advice, ensuring they avoid the common pitfall of using an adverb instead of the required adjective following the linking verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exercise caution when

Uses a more formal verb to suggest a deliberate application of care.

be wary when

Implies a higher level of suspicion or alertness regarding potential danger.

proceed with caution when

Specifically suggests careful movement or progression in a task.

stay alert when

Focuses on the state of mental readiness and observation.

use discretion when

Suggests using one's own judgment to avoid mistakes or offense.

act carefully when

A simpler, more direct alternative focused on the physical or immediate action.

maintain vigilance when

Increases the intensity, suggesting a continuous state of guarding against risks.

keep a close watch when

More idiomatic and focuses on visual monitoring.

play it safe when

A more informal, conversational way to advise against taking risks.

tread carefully when

A metaphorical way to suggest navigating a sensitive or dangerous situation.

FAQs

How do I use "remain cautious when" in a sentence?

You can use it to advise someone to be careful in specific circumstances, such as: "One should "remain cautious when" interpreting preliminary data."

What can I say instead of "remain cautious when"?

Depending on your tone, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/exercise+caution+when" target="_blank" rel="alternative">exercise caution when", "<a href="/s/be+wary+when" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be wary when" or "<a href="/s/stay+alert+when" target="_blank" rel="alternative">stay alert when".

Is "remain cautious when" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for formal contexts. Ludwig shows its frequent use in academic journals and reputable news outlets like The New York Times and The Economist.

What is the difference between "remain cautious when" and "be cautious when"?

While both are correct, "remain cautious when" implies a continuation of an existing state of care, whereas "<a href="/s/be+cautious+when" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be cautious when" can refer to a new or immediate requirement for care.