retain out

USAGE SUMMARY

"retain out" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
It may be a mistake or a mistranslation of the phrase "keep out," which means to not allow something or someone to enter a space or situation. Correct options to use in written English are: - Keep out - Exclude - Prohibit - Prevent Example: The security guard was instructed to keep out any unauthorized personnel from entering the building.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We are looking at how we retain out existing staff but we have some hard-to-fill vacancies".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Importantly, participants retained out to 6-months post-test result disclosure did not differ significantly from those not retained across recruitment channel, participant language, or participation location.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

That upon the city stock was retained out of the interest due on it to the holders thereof.

Cornell University

Both of them collect dust in my front closet, retained out of a sense of duty that's duller than any of my other senses.

The New York Times

To my astonishment he told me he had received instructions to close CSS by the following month, and that only four staff were to be retained (out of 12.6 positions) to deliver the programmes that would be relocated.

The Guardian

Murray, as a holder, brought suit, Nov. 17, 1871, in the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Charleston against the city council of Charleston, to recover the amount of the tax which the treasurer had retained out of the interest due to him, alleging that the said tax was illegal.

Cornell University

where k is the number of singular values σ retained out of N total singular values.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Remarkable are the numbers of aircraft that the new plan retains out to the year 2040.

Huffington Post

It was a leisurely and slovenly "Pag" that felt like a comfortable old operatic shoe that no longer has any support but is retained out of sentimentality.

Los Angeles Times

was retained out of five such experiments.

Plosone

Similar percentage was retained out of the 1,028,654 454-derived ESTs (60.7%) (Table 1).

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "retain out" in formal writing. It is not a recognized idiom and may confuse readers. Consider using more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "keep out" or "exclude".

Common error

A common mistake is to assume that all combinations of verbs and prepositions are valid. While "retain" is a valid verb, combining it with "out" in this manner creates an unidiomatic expression. Always double-check the validity of such combinations in a reliable dictionary or grammar guide.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain out" functions as a verb phrase, though its usage is highly questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not a recognized idiom and lacks a clear, established function within standard English grammar. While "retain" is a valid verb, its combination with "out" in this context is unconventional.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "retain out" is considered grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its non-idiomatic nature, suggesting alternatives like "keep out" or "exclude" for clearer communication. While examples can be found across various contexts, including Science, News & Media, and Academia, its infrequent occurrence and questionable grammar make it an undesirable choice for formal writing. Therefore, it's best to opt for more conventional and grammatically sound alternatives to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep out

Replaces "retain" with "keep", focusing on preventing entry or inclusion.

exclude

Focuses on the action of leaving something out, differing from retaining by emphasizing omission rather than preservation.

maintain

Shifts the focus to preserving a state or condition, instead of specifically holding something back or excluding it.

hold back

Emphasizes the act of preventing something from progressing or being released.

leave out

Highlights the act of omitting something, rather than actively retaining or keeping it.

omit

Focuses on the exclusion of something, similar to "leave out" but more formal.

preserve

Stresses maintaining something in its original state, differing from the exclusionary sense of "retain out".

conserve

Implies protecting something from harm or depletion, a broader meaning than the specific act of retaining.

safeguard

Highlights the protection of something, rather than simply retaining or excluding it.

secure

Emphasizes making something safe and protected, a different nuance than the exclusionary act of "retain out".

FAQs

What does "retain out" mean?

The phrase "retain out" is not a standard English expression and doesn't have a clearly defined meaning. It may be a misunderstanding or a non-idiomatic combination of words.

Is "retain out" grammatically correct?

No, "retain out" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "retain" typically doesn't combine with the preposition "out" in this way.

What can I say instead of "retain out"?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use alternatives like "keep out", "exclude", or rephrase your sentence to use "retain" in a different context.

How can I use the word "retain" correctly?

Use "retain" to mean 'keep' or 'continue to have something'. For example, "The company aims to retain its customers". Avoid combining "retain" with "out" in most contexts.