specifically retained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "specifically retained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been deliberately kept or preserved for a particular purpose or reason. Example: "The documents that were specifically retained for the audit will be reviewed next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The United States Senate voted to ratify this treaty in 1992 but specifically retained the right to execute juvenile offenders.

The New York Times

In pull-down assays, PARP1, XRCC1, and LigIII as well as the XRCC1/LigIII complex were specifically retained on glutathione beads liganded by GST-FUS, indicating that FUS interacts with both subunits of the XRCC1/LigIII complex (Fig. 3a).

Nature

The final regulations specifically retained the "economic outlay" requirement in one context.

Forbes

As a DOE consultant, Cerf devised a cockamamie plan to reorganize the NYC school system, and give private companies the responsibility to offer support services for schools, replacing the district superintendents, whose role had been specifically retained in state governance law.

Huffington Post

Finally, the plus-end kinesin CENP-E was specifically retained to KTs after EGFP-Hec1 expression.

Plosone

We specifically retained gapped HSEs in the dataset by including subunits scoring <50% but flanked by higher-scoring subunits.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the Boxer-Markey bill would specifically retain state authority, allowing states to pass laws that are stricter than the federal laws.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By using reverse genetics, we systemically created 127 reassortant viruses between a duck isolate of H5N1, specifically retaining its hemagglutinin (HA) gene throughout, and a highly transmissible, human-infective H1N1 virus.

Science Magazine

We might, specifically, retain the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee until after completion of the official Dietary Guidelines, and ask them to summarize, for public viewing, an inventory of the differences between their recommendations, and the final product.

Huffington Post

This observation raises the intriguingly possibility of yet unexplored direct molecular links between cell-cell contact regulators and cells that specifically retain pluripotency.

Plosone

For KEGG and WikiPathways we also maintain a "group-gene list" which specifically retains the original format of genes in the groups.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "specifically retained", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being kept and the reason for its deliberate preservation. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "specifically retained" in contexts where simple 'kept' or 'maintained' would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly formal or convoluted when a simpler term would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "specifically retained" functions as a verb phrase where "specifically" modifies the verb "retained", indicating a deliberate and intentional action of keeping something. This is supported by Ludwig AI and numerous examples where entities are consciously preserved.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

73%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "specifically retained" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the deliberate act of preserving something for a particular purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it conveys intentionality and purpose. While effective in formal settings, overuse in general contexts should be avoided. Alternatives like "deliberately kept" or "intentionally preserved" can be used for variety, but "specifically retained" stands out when highlighting a conscious and reasoned decision to keep something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberately kept

Emphasizes the intentional aspect of keeping something.

intentionally preserved

Highlights the purposeful act of preserving something.

expressly maintained

Stresses the clarity and explicitness of the maintenance.

particularly preserved

Focuses on the selectivity of the preservation.

carefully conserved

Highlights the attentiveness in conserving something.

selectively maintained

Emphasizes the selective nature of the maintenance.

purposely upheld

Indicates a deliberate action to uphold or maintain something.

knowingly preserved

Highlights the awareness and intent behind the preservation.

designedly retained

Stresses that the retention was planned or designed.

certainly kept

Emphasizes the certainty and decisiveness of keeping something.

FAQs

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

Use "specifically retained" to emphasize that something was deliberately kept for a particular reason. For example, "The documents were "specifically retained" for audit purposes".

What are some alternatives to "specifically retained"?

You can use alternatives like "deliberately kept", "intentionally preserved", or "expressly maintained" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "specifically retained" or simply "retained"?

Use "specifically retained" when you want to emphasize the deliberate and purposeful nature of the retention. If the retention is merely factual, "retained" is sufficient.

What is the difference between "specifically retained" and "non-specifically retained"?

"Specifically retained" indicates a deliberate action to keep something for a reason, while "non-specifically retained" suggests that something was kept incidentally or without a specific purpose.