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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
retain sell
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "retain sell" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks context for proper usage. Example: "We need to decide whether to retain sell or liquidate our assets."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Formal & Business
Wiki
Alternative expressions(5)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
We retain sell.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
We retain a sell stance.
News & Media
We retain a sell recommendation for the present.
News & Media
We retain our sell recommendation and price target of 900p.
News & Media
We therefore retain our sell recommendation and our target price of 176p.
News & Media
We retain our SELL recommendation on Betfair and move our [price target] from 625p to 600p.
News & Media
We therefore retain our sell recommendation but reduce our target price to 380p from 450p.
News & Media
However, given the unattractive valuation multiples, we retain our sell stance and £20 price target.
News & Media
RBS has been the worst performing UK bank in 2013 year-to-date, but we retain a sell recommendation and 290p target price.
News & Media
The host of uncertainties facing Resolution leads us to retain our sell recommendation and sum of the parts-based target price [of 147p].
News & Media
In light of today's disappointing results and commentary on margins, we retain our sell recommendation and target price of 810p.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When aiming to convey that an entity is both holding onto and offering something for sale, use grammatically correct alternatives like "hold and sell" or "retain for resale" to ensure clarity.
Common error
Do not combine verbs like "retain" and "sell" without a conjunction or preposition if they are meant to express separate actions. Ungrammatical phrases can confuse your message.
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "retain sell" does not function as a standard grammatical unit in English. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not a correct expression. The intended meaning is unclear without additional context or grammatical modification.
Frequent in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "retain sell" is not a grammatically sound or commonly used expression in English. As Ludwig AI notes, it is an incomplete expression that lacks proper syntax and context. Although sources like The Guardian, Forbes and The New York Times have examples of similar usage of the two words separately, combining "retain" and "sell" directly is incorrect and unclear. To convey the idea of holding onto something before selling it, it is advisable to use clearer alternatives like ""hold and sell"" or ""retain for resale"" to ensure that your message is accurately understood.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
hold and sell
This alternative directly replaces 'retain' with 'hold', offering a more straightforward and grammatically sound construction with similar implications.
keep and sell
Substituting 'retain' with 'keep' maintains the meaning of possession before the action of selling, clarifying the intended sequence.
maintain and sell
Using 'maintain' suggests an active effort to keep something before it is sold, adding a layer of management or upkeep.
retain for resale
This phrase emphasizes that the reason for retaining is specifically for future sale, clarifying the purpose.
hold for sale
Similar to 'retain for resale', this version uses 'hold' to indicate temporary possession with the intent to sell.
keep in inventory for sale
This phrase is more specific to business contexts, referring to keeping items in stock with the intention of selling them.
manage and sell assets
This alternative broadens the context to asset management, implying a strategic approach to handling possessions before selling.
preserve and sell
Suggests that steps are taken to maintain the condition of something before it is sold.
conserve and sell
Implies a careful and economical approach to retaining something before selling it, possibly to maximize value.
warehouse and sell
This alternative is suitable when the items are stored in a warehouse before being sold, specifying the location and process.
FAQs
What does "retain sell" mean?
The phrase "retain sell" is not a standard or grammatically correct English expression. It likely attempts to combine the concepts of keeping something and selling it, but it lacks proper syntax. A clearer way to express this idea might be to "hold and sell" or "retain for resale".
How can I use the idea of "retain sell" in a sentence correctly?
Instead of "retain sell", use phrases like "We "hold and sell" assets" or "The company will "retain for resale" any returned merchandise" to convey the intended meaning.
What are some alternatives to "retain sell" in a business context?
In business, you could use phrases such as "manage and sell assets", "keep in inventory for sale", or "hold for sale" to describe the process of retaining assets before selling them.
Is "retain sell" grammatically correct?
No, "retain sell" is not grammatically correct. The verb "retain" requires an object, and simply following it with another verb like "sell" creates an ungrammatical structure. A conjunction (like "and") or a preposition (like "for") is needed to connect the two verbs correctly.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested