some maintained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "some maintained" is not correct in standard written English as it lacks clarity and context.
It could potentially be used in a context where you are referring to a group of people or entities that have maintained a certain position or condition, but it needs additional information to be clear. Example: "In the debate, some maintained that the policy would lead to economic growth."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Birmingham city council cannot escape its own responsibility for the mess some maintained schools got into.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some maintained that budget deficits would also raise the level of economic activity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some maintained they were just headed to Beirut to relax, and they would take stock in a week or so.

The New York Times

In Sunday's Times piece, some maintained that plunging into the "real world" is the best teacher of all.

The New York Times

As gloomy as the report Thursday was, some maintained that it could have been a lot worse.

The New York Times

Some maintained ties with the church, returning for baptisms, weddings, or funerals, contributing to the parish fund and assisting with needed repair work.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The tough part, some maintain, is internal politics.

The New York Times

What matters is improving early education, some maintain.

The Economist

Some maintain that there's nothing we can do about this.

The Guardian - Film

Some maintain that the ruling in that Mississippi case should doom advisory verdicts.

The New York Times

Some maintain a professional distance throughout, while others must toggle between restraint and display.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "some maintained", ensure the context clearly identifies who "some" refers to and what they maintained. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the group or individuals involved.

Common error

A common error is using "some maintained" without specifying who "some" refers to. Always provide context or identify the group being discussed to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some maintained" functions as a clause element, typically part of a larger sentence, where "some" acts as a determiner specifying an indefinite quantity and "maintained" serves as the verb, indicating the act of upholding or asserting a particular viewpoint or condition. According to Ludwig, the phrase may lack clarity and context, and could benefit from additional specification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "some maintained" is used to indicate that a portion of a group held a specific belief, position, or condition. While fairly common, Ludwig AI points out that its usage in standard written English is questionable without further clarification. To avoid ambiguity, it's crucial to specify who "some" refers to. Examples from Ludwig highlight the phrase's presence across diverse sources, including news articles, scientific publications, and encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral register. When writing, consider alternatives like "certain experts argued" or "a minority believed" to enhance clarity and precision. The phrase sees frequent use in News & Media and Science publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certain individuals asserted

Changes the focus to specific individuals and uses a more formal verb, "asserted", implying a strong declaration.

a few parties upheld

Replaces "some" with "a few parties", indicating a smaller subset, and "maintained" with "upheld", suggesting support for something established.

several people defended

Uses "several people" to quantify the group and "defended" to imply active support against opposition.

some individuals professed

Substitutes "maintained" with "professed", which suggests openly declaring a belief, possibly without full conviction.

a number of members claimed

Employs "a number of members" to specify a group and uses "claimed", indicating that the assertion may be disputed.

various factions contended

Replaces "some" with "various factions", indicating differing groups, and "maintained" with "contended", implying argument or debate.

certain segments supported

Uses "certain segments" to highlight specific portions of a larger group and "supported" to show active backing.

few groups sustained

Replaces "some" with "few groups" signifying a small amount and "maintained" with "sustained", referring to keeping something going.

a section preserved

Replaces "some" with "a section" to highlight a division and replaces maintained with "preserved", indicating that something was kept safe or in tact.

portions retained

Replaces "some" with "portions", signifying a share of something, and "maintained" with "retained", focusing on not losing something.

FAQs

How can I make the phrase "some maintained" more specific?

To improve clarity, replace "some" with a specific group or category, such as "economists maintained" or "scientists maintained". This clarifies who held the view or position.

What are some alternatives to "some maintained" that provide more detail?

Alternatives include phrases like "certain experts argued", "several sources indicated", or "a minority believed", which offer more precise information about the group and their level of conviction.

Is it grammatically correct to use "some maintained"?

While not strictly incorrect, "some maintained" can be vague. Ensure the context clearly indicates who "some" refers to. Specifying the group improves clarity.

What's the difference between "some maintained" and "others argued"?

"Some maintained" indicates that a portion of a group held a particular view, while "others argued" suggests a contrasting opinion or viewpoint from another segment of the population or group. The first focuses on maintaining, while the second focuses on arguing.