retain in mind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retain in mind" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express the idea that someone should remember something important. For example, "Please retain in mind that we will need to leave at 9:00am tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Retain in mind that the degree of clarity, detail and resolution that you choose to will need once you obtain a scanner.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But here's what's odd: not only must he remain undisturbed by the live grenade in his hands, he must also retain, in his mind's eye, the detached view of the man sitting in the pillbox on the rim of the stadium.

The New York Times - Magazine

That is how readers retain in their minds a sense of the character "Isabel Archer", even if they cannot tell you what she is exactly like.

The Guardian - Books

A former Auschwitz prisoner, Waedyslaw Bartoszewski asks that question in a most piercing way: "Millions of people around the world know what Auschwitz was, but it is basic that we retain in our minds and memories awareness that it is humans who decide whether such a tragedy will ever take place again.

Huffington Post

If it is objected that all these things are ultimately dependent on images and sensations first gleaned from the world by the senses, this might be granted, on the condition that the sensory experience retained in the mind is understood to have the character the mind has given it.

The Guardian - Books

By some unknown means, the character of his species had left its mark on her, but no one knew how: was it, as some thought, a mental impression, an idea of quagga-ness that the mare retained in her mind?

The Guardian - Books

Rather, he reported that he used his ears widely and followed what was good in what he had heard and used his eyes widely and retained in his mind what he had seen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We cannot begin to legislate (as we always suspected, and as Proust had the stamina to confirm) for what will or will not be retained in the mind's eye, or in the crannies of a bad memory.

The New Yorker

But what we remember isn't a matter of will or choice, and what is retained in the mind can easily become a burden.

BBC

For example, in The Psychology of Imagination (1940), Sartre argues that Husserl remains captive to the idealist principle of immanence (the object of consciousness lies within consciousness), despite his stated goal of combating idealism, when he seems to consider images as miniatures of the perceptual object reproduced or retained in the mind.

SEP

An intuitive realist, primarily concerned with expressive rather than formal values, he developed a kind of visual mnemonics: "the retaining in my minds eye without drawing on the spot whatever I wanted to imitate".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "retain in mind" when you want to emphasize the importance of remembering a specific detail or piece of information, especially in formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "retain in mind" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "keep in mind" or "remember" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain in mind" functions as a directive, urging the listener or reader to remember and consider a particular piece of information. Ludwig AI shows the phrase appearing in contexts where emphasizing the importance of remembering is crucial.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "retain in mind" is a directive that means to remember and consider something important. While grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare and leans toward formality. Simpler alternatives like "keep in mind" or "remember" are often more appropriate for everyday communication. Use "retain in mind" when you need to emphasize the significance of a piece of information in a professional or academic context, but be mindful of the audience and the overall tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Keep in mind

Uses "keep" for a more common and slightly less formal tone.

Bear in mind

Employs "bear" which is a synonym for "keep" making the phrase subtly more formal than "keep in mind" but largely interchangeable.

Remember to consider

Replaces "retain" with "remember to consider" to more explicitly highlight consideration.

Take into consideration

Focuses on the act of considering something as a part of decision making.

Don't forget to factor in

Highlights the importance of including something in an evaluation.

Hold in memory

Emphasizes the act of keeping something stored in one's memory.

Store in your memory

Focuses on the mental storage of information for later recall.

Be mindful of

Stresses awareness and attention to something.

Take note of

Suggests paying particular attention to something important.

Don't overlook

Warns against neglecting or failing to consider something.

FAQs

What does "retain in mind" mean?

The phrase "retain in mind" means to remember and consider something important. It's used to emphasize the need to keep specific information in your thoughts.

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

You can use "retain in mind" when you want someone to remember something important. For example, "Please "retain in mind" that the deadline is approaching."

What's a more common alternative to "retain in mind"?

A more common alternative is "keep in mind". It conveys the same meaning but is less formal.

Is "retain in mind" formal or informal?

"Retain in mind" is generally more formal than alternatives like "keep in mind" or "remember". It is suitable for professional or academic settings.