retention

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'retention' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a variety of situations, including to refer to a company's ability to keep customers or staff, or to refer to the length of time that someone is able to remember something. For example, you could use the sentence: "The company focused on customer retention strategies in order to keep their customers engaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For Robinson, retention of his East Belfast seat is critical to his survival.

The Guardian

Related: Edward Snowden says Australia's new data retention laws are 'dangerous' The Conservative manifesto had promised to strengthen the state's powers of surveillance, despite opposition to the already considerable powers revealed by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor now living in exile in Russia.

The Guardian

We would replace the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which has failed … [We would] Follow human rights judgments limiting surveillance and data retention in full; [and] support the EU's proposals to strengthen data protection laws against opposition from large US data-driven companies".

The Guardian - Tech

Clinical officers complete a three year training programme and although part of the medical profession, have no formal equivalent position in the West, resulting in higher domestic retention.

The Guardian

Many western countries have developed bilateral agreements with African countries in an effort to encourage retention.

The Guardian

The focus on values-based recruitment as a means to up quality and retention by reducing costs is an example.

The Guardian

Chris Murray highlights what he calls the "important difference" between the retention of local taxes and full devolution that would allow the city regions to vary tax rates.

The Guardian

Although the retention of the 11-plus is popular among the unionist middle classes, the real rewards for the UUP from that electorate will flow from their "thranness" in the face of pressure.

The Guardian

Those employers that have implemented the policy - including an increasing number in the private sector - report that the extra money put into the pockets of their employees is more than made up for by the savings they make as a result of improved recruitment and retention, and the benefits to their business of the boost it gives to staff morale and engagement.

The Guardian

Rusbridger will discuss the current nature of press freedom, from the Guardian's decision to publish documents leaked by Edward Snowden to the issues of wire-tapping, surveillance, data retention, and the possible prosecution of journalists under security laws.

The Guardian

"For Network Rail's remuneration committee to rename bonuses as retention payments and tell the AGM that bosses will quit if they don't get these payouts is a completely unacceptable way to put pressure on the body that exists to hold the company to account.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employee turnover, use "retention" to highlight strategies for keeping valuable staff. For example: "Implement training programs to improve employee retention".

Common error

Avoid using "retention" when you mean "detention", which refers to the act of holding someone in custody or confinement. Use "detention" specifically in legal or security contexts.

Linguistic Context

The noun "retention" primarily functions as a modifier or object to describe the act, state, or capability of keeping something. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in diverse contexts as shown by the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "retention" functions primarily as a noun, conveying the act of keeping or maintaining something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts, including business, media, and science. It's essential to distinguish "retention" from similar-sounding words like "detention" to avoid confusion. Common usages include discussing customer or employee retention, or data retention policies. The frequency is "very common", indicating widespread use across many contexts. When considering alternative phrases, be mindful of subtle differences in meaning; "preservation", "maintenance", and "conservation" each offer unique shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preservation

Focuses on maintaining something in its original state.

maintenance

Emphasizes the act of keeping something in good condition.

upkeep

Highlights the effort required to maintain something.

conservation

Relates to protecting something from harm or loss.

retentiveness

Highlights the ability to retain information or memory

memorization

Emphasizes the act of committing something to memory.

recall

Focuses on the act of bringing something back to mind.

remembrance

Highlights the act of remembering someone or something.

data storage

Specifies the activity of retaining data.

employee loyalty

Emphasizes employee retention in a business context.

FAQs

How to use "retention" in a sentence?

Use "retention" to refer to the act of keeping something, like "customer retention" or "data retention". For example, "The company focused on improving customer retention rates".

What can I say instead of "retention"?

You can use alternatives like "preservation", "maintenance", or "conservation" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "retention" or "maintainance"?

"Retention" is the correct spelling for the act of keeping or retaining something. "Maintainance" is a misspelling; the correct term is "maintenance".

What's the difference between "retention" and "recall"?

"Retention" refers to the act of keeping something, while "recall" refers to the act of remembering something. In the context of memory, retention is the storage of information, and recall is the retrieval of that information.