retain for a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retain for a while" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the temporary holding or keeping of something for a limited period of time. Example: "Please retain the documents for a while until we finalize the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Saud bin Nayef has been running his father's court - a job that he could retain for a while under his full- uncle, Salman, while Mohammed bin Nayef, the assistant interior minister, was evidently too young to jump ahead of his full-uncle, Prince Ahmed.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Things should be retained for a while, but in this case they don't".

The New York Times

On the Plus plan (now up to 200K plays/month), the statistics are retained for a year, while Premium plan (1M plays/month) customers will have access to unlimited data retention.

TechCrunch

Moreover, Spanish is easy enough that kids really can emerge from high school with a very useful command of the language that they will retain for life, while Mandarin takes about four times as long to make the same progress.

The New York Times

Norsk Transport retained for a period maintenance of the Rjukan Line, while the Tinnos Line remained part of the rail network maintained by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.

Wikipedia

"When I become a world champion, I'll retain the title for a while and then probably go into acting," Mincy said confidently.

The New York Times - Sports

It may be able to retain its audience for a while, but with no new features it will likely stagnate and die against the increasing competition.

TechCrunch

Few rams are retained for mating while the majority are culled and sold for cash purpose.

BMC Veterinary Research

After pelleting, supernatants were retained for bioanalysis, while cell/microcarrier pellets were trypsinized and cells counted in triplicate using Trypan blue exclusion.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Of the 817 potentially relevant articles from the electronic database, only six were retained for analysis while the remaining 811 were excluded.

BMC Psychiatry

But, though Mr Cavallo's own small party will be another loser at the polls, he may retain his current post for a while longer.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "retain for a while", ensure the context clearly indicates the duration is temporary and not indefinite. This prevents confusion about the long-term status of what is being retained.

Common error

Avoid using "retain for a while" when the intention is to keep something for an extended or unspecified period. Using a more general term like "keep" or "maintain" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain for a while" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary holding or preservation of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it expresses the action of keeping something for a limited duration. The examples show its use in various contexts, emphasizing the temporary nature of the retention.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retain for a while" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate keeping something temporarily. As identified by Ludwig, the examples showcase its application across news, scientific, and general contexts. While not extremely common, it is readily understandable. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "hold temporarily" might be preferred. When using this phrase, ensure the temporary nature of the retention is clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold temporarily

Emphasizes the temporary nature of holding something.

keep briefly

Highlights the short duration of keeping something.

maintain temporarily

Focuses on preserving something in a current state for a limited time.

preserve for a period

Stresses the act of preserving something over a specific duration.

store for the short term

Implies keeping something safe for a limited time.

have in custody briefly

Suggests a brief period of having something in one's possession or care.

hang onto for a bit

Offers a more informal way of saying to keep something for a short duration.

stash away for now

Implies concealing something for the present time.

shelve temporarily

Suggests putting something aside for a limited period.

delay discarding

Highlights postponing the act of getting rid of something.

FAQs

How can I use "retain for a while" in a sentence?

You can use "retain for a while" to indicate keeping something temporarily, as in "Please "retain the documents" for a while until the audit is complete".

What's a more formal alternative to "retain for a while"?

A more formal alternative would be "hold temporarily" or "maintain temporarily", which convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is "retain for a while" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "retain for a while" might be considered slightly informal for strict academic writing. Consider using more precise language like "preserve for a specified period" for clarity and formality.

What does "retain" mean in the phrase "retain for a while"?

In this context, "retain" means to keep or continue to have something. The addition of "for a while" indicates that the retention is only temporary.