retained for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retained for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is kept or held for a specific purpose or duration. Example: "The documents will be retained for a period of five years for auditing purposes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It ought to be retained for Chevrolet".

The New Yorker

Backups will be retained for 10 weeks.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

From that successful workshop, many actors were retained for Broadway.

The New York Times

(A pub retained, for instance, on the ground floor).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Both paired and unpaired reads were retained for further analysis.

Nature

Alignments with ≤ 2 mismatches were retained for further analysis.

Nature

Only one best hit was retained for each query sequence.

Nature

In most cases, backups are retained for a month.

University of California, Berkeley

The genus Asymmetron is sometimes retained for some species.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Plants are usually retained for one to four years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A savvy veteran may be retained for leadership and guidance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "retained for", ensure the reason for retention is clear to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "The data was "retained for" analysis to identify potential trends."

Common error

Avoid using "retained for" without specifying the duration or purpose of retention. Be specific: instead of saying "The files were "retained for" later," specify "The files were "retained for" five years for auditing purposes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retained for" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is being kept or preserved by someone or something, for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI shows, this usage appears across diverse fields, stressing the reason for holding onto something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retained for" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to express the purpose of preserving something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread, especially in scientific, academic, and news contexts. While generally neutral to formal, ensure the reason for retention is clear to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives like "kept for", "preserved for", and "maintained for" can be used depending on the context and desired level of formality. The key is to provide clarity on why something is being kept, aligning with best writing practices. The phrase appears across the web with different purposes, ranging from scientific papers to encyclopedia entries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kept for

Emphasizes the act of keeping something for future use or a specific purpose.

Preserved for

Suggests maintaining something in its original condition for future use or reference.

Maintained for

Highlights the ongoing effort to keep something in a particular state for a reason.

Held for

Focuses on the act of holding something, either physically or metaphorically, for a specific purpose.

Reserved for

Implies that something is set aside specifically for a future use or a particular person.

Conserved for

Highlights the careful management of something to ensure its availability for future use.

Stored for

Indicates that something is placed in a location for safekeeping and later use.

Set aside for

Emphasizes the act of allocating something for a particular purpose or person.

Saved for

Focuses on the act of saving something to be used at a later time or for a specific reason.

Kept in anticipation of

More formal alternative, suggesting something is kept because a future event is expected

FAQs

How can I use "retained for" in a sentence?

You can use "retained for" to indicate that something is kept or held for a specific purpose or duration. For example, "The documents will be "retained for" a period of five years for auditing purposes."

What are some alternatives to "retained for"?

Some alternatives include "kept for", "preserved for", or "maintained for", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "retained for" or "kept for"?

"Retained for" often suggests a more formal or official context, while "kept for" is more general. The best choice depends on the tone and formality of your writing.

What is the difference between "retained for" and "reserved for"?

"Retained for" means something is kept or maintained, whereas "reserved for" indicates that something is specifically set aside for a particular purpose or person and can't be used for other intentions.