retain balance

USAGE SUMMARY

"retain balance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to keeping a balance of something, such as an equilibrium or a steady state. For example, "It is important to retain balance between work and leisure activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

As newspapers have defined their identities more sharply, so there is a greater need for television news to retain balance.

Independent

The riders struggle to retain balance and to keep front wheels straight — it would be disastrous to hit the ground with the front wheel askew.

The New York Times

The many ways, other than simple mechanical symmetry ("for every item on the left there should be an item on the right," which soon becomes monotonous), in which a painting may have variety and yet retain balance are too complex to be discussed other than in a book of art criticism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

95%% of the participants were able to retain balance within the wheelchair at an acceleration of 0.126 g, and the average at which balance was lost was around 0.22 g.

Urban Rail Transit

Passenger safety becomes an issue when the acceleration/jerk levels require passengers to take one or more steps to retain balance (the stepping strategy), as this introduces the risk of falling.

Urban Rail Transit

The minimum time for muscles to react against external forces is typically 0.12 0.13 s [2, 17], and for the body to make larger movements to retain balance takes around 1 s [25].

Urban Rail Transit

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A small yellow dog stands on the back of a speeding moped, calmly retaining balance.

The New York Times - Travel

Following the above, three different strategies can be identified for retaining balance under the influence of an external acceleration.

Urban Rail Transit

Lipper, however, retains "balanced" as a category name.

The New York Times

Dressage involves making the horse stand still, control its limbs, move to your movements, essentially stopping it being a horse, all the while retaining symmetry and balance and the opaque rigmarole demanded by a seven-person judging team.

The Guardian - Sport

Will Seattle retain that balance and cohesion?

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about abstract concepts like power dynamics or brand management, use "retain balance" to convey the idea of maintaining equilibrium between opposing forces or interests.

Common error

Avoid using "retain balance" when you actually mean to "find balance" or "achieve balance". "Retain" suggests you already possess balance and are working to maintain it, not acquire it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain balance" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the act of keeping or maintaining equilibrium, stability, or a steady state. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from physical balance to abstract concepts like brand management and power dynamics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

25%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "retain balance" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys the act of maintaining a state of equilibrium. According to Ludwig, it appears across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias, suggesting its wide applicability and understanding. While phrases like "maintain equilibrium" and "preserve stability" offer viable alternatives, it's important to use "retain balance" when the intent is to emphasize the preservation of an existing balanced state, and not achieving balance for the first time. Furthermore, Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in written English. This makes "retain balance" a reliable choice for expressing the concept of maintaining equilibrium in both concrete and abstract contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain equilibrium

Focuses on maintaining a state of equilibrium, emphasizing stability.

preserve stability

Highlights the act of preserving a stable condition.

keep steady

Emphasizes maintaining a constant and unwavering state.

hold equilibrium

Implies a firm grasp on maintaining balance.

sustain equilibrium

Focuses on the continuous effort to keep the balance over time.

uphold stability

Suggests active support and maintenance of a stable state.

secure equilibrium

Emphasizes making the balance safe and protected.

ensure stability

Highlights the act of guaranteeing a stable condition.

conserve balance

Emphasizes the careful preservation of a state of equilibrium.

defend stability

Suggests protecting a stable state from threats or disturbances.

FAQs

How can I use "retain balance" in a sentence?

You can use "retain balance" to describe maintaining equilibrium in various contexts. For example, "It's important to "maintain balance" between work and personal life", or "The company needs to "preserve stability" to ensure long-term success".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "retain balance"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "maintain equilibrium", ""preserve stability"", or "keep steady" as alternatives to "retain balance".

Which is the correct term to use, "retain balance" or "achieve balance"?

"Retain balance" is used when you already have a balance and want to maintain it. "Achieve balance" is used when you are trying to reach a state of equilibrium that you don't currently have. For example, if you're already stable, you "preserve stability"; if you're unstable, you "achieve stability".

What's the difference between "retain balance" and "maintain balance"?

While "retain balance" and ""maintain balance"" are very similar, "retain" implies holding on to something that's already present, while "maintain" suggests a more active and continuous effort to keep something in its current state. Both terms can often be used interchangeably.