retain working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retain working" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of maintaining functionality or effectiveness, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "We need to ensure that we retain working relationships with our partners."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Approval for the deal was in some doubt because of union opposition, but the retailers have agreed to keep current staffing levels for two years and to retain working arrangements for three years.

The Economist

The new design should prove easy to integrate with number-crunching processor chips and should retain working memory even when a computer is off.

Science Magazine

97 Another small Finnish study concluded that the high acquisition costs of TMZ are compensated by prolonged home care and possibly by the ability to retain working capacity during TMZ treatment among patients with recurrent gliomas.

Core Evidence

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Just before the sale, the heirs decided to retain works worth about $15 million, which came off the guarantee.

The New York Times

The judge ruled the company had failed to make "every effort" to retain work in Connecticut, as required under its labor agreement with the International Association of Machinists Districtt 91, the union said Tuesday.

The New York Times

Prediction of failure to retain work 1 year after interdisciplinary functional restoration in occupational injuries.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Extreme depression, anxiety, as well as physical symptoms all plagued Jill's, and hobbled her ability to retain work, meet friends, and live an otherwise normal life.

Vice

It was decided to retain work in the questionnaire because it was reported as relevant and important to the majority or respondents, and internal consistency reliability was excellent and very little impaired.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Where it is provided, it is rarely organised in a way that helps prevent job loss by ensuring the stroke survivor's opportunities to retain work with an existing employer are maximised [ 9].

Disability and Rehabilitation

Margaret Doyle, a spokeswoman for MoMA, said the museum has no interest in retaining works to which it does not have clear title.

The New York Times - Arts

The union estimates that G.M. will create or preserve 6,400 jobs over the next four years, mostly by hiring new, entry-level employees but also by retaining work in the United States that was going to move to Mexico.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context carefully and choose alternatives that accurately reflect whether you're referring to maintaining a job, preserving an operational state, or sustaining a function.

Common error

Avoid using "retain working" as a catch-all phrase. This lack of specificity can lead to ambiguity. Use more precise wording to improve comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retain working" appears to function as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the act of maintaining a working state or employment. However, Ludwig AI points out that it's not considered standard English. Examples sometimes intend to convey maintaining employment or functionality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "retain working" is considered non-standard English by Ludwig AI. While it appears sporadically across different contexts like News, Media and Science, it is rarely seen, with only 3 examples and its grammatical status is considered incorrect. When aiming to express the idea of maintaining employment or functionality, clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "maintain employment", "preserve functionality", or "continue working" are advisable. Using precise language improves clarity and avoids potential misinterpretations. Therefore, it's crucial to use the phrase cautiously and consider more appropriate alternatives for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain employment

Focuses on keeping someone employed, shifting from a general action to a specific outcome.

preserve functionality

Emphasizes keeping something operational, rather than a general action of retaining.

sustain operation

Highlights continuous running or functioning of something, differing slightly in focus.

continue service

Underscores the act of providing an ongoing service, changing the context slightly.

keep in operation

Stresses the state of being operational, a subtle difference in emphasis.

retain effectiveness

Focuses on maintaining the ability to produce a desired result.

maintain working order

Highlights the condition of being in a functional state.

preserve work

Focuses on conserving or protecting labor or effort.

hold onto job

Emphasizes keeping a job, implying effort to not lose it.

secure employment

Stresses making sure one's job is safe or certain.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "retain working"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "maintain employment" if you're referring to keeping someone employed, or "preserve functionality" if you're talking about keeping something operational.

Is "retain working" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "retain working" is not correct in standard written English. It's advisable to use clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives.

How can I use "retain" correctly in a sentence about employment?

Instead of "retain working", you might say "retain employees", "retain staff", or "retain a workforce". For example, "The company aims to "retain employees" by offering better benefits".

What's the difference between "retain working" and "continue working"?

"Continue working" is generally clearer and more grammatically acceptable. "Retain working" might be interpreted as maintaining a state or condition that allows work to continue, but it is not a standard phrase. So you may want to say, "The agreement allows them to "continue working" under the same conditions".