strive to retain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to retain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an effort or determination to keep or maintain something, such as a quality, value, or resource. Example: "In our efforts to improve customer satisfaction, we strive to retain the trust and loyalty of our clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Mr Zuma will strive to retain investors' confidence.

The Economist

Then strive to retain them by helping them broaden their skills, publicly recognizing them, and easing their work/life tension.

Harvard Business Review

Developing countries -- and these days even developed ones like Greece and Spain -- constantly strive to retain the confidence of fickle foreign investors.

The New York Times

His past experience of relegation battles may yet count in his favour as Burnley strive to retain their hard-won Premier League status.

The Guardian - Sport

Marketers in a position to do so strive to retain brand identification by building consumer loyalty through the service and repair portions of their operations.

Harvard Business Review

Ms. Murtha, who lives in Brewster, and Ms. Keesler, who lives in Cortlandt Manor, enjoy a flexible work option called job sharing that is gaining acceptance in Westchester as companies strive to retain seasoned employees and recruit new ones.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Increasingly, urban planning strives to retain elements of native ecosystems to meet multiple social and ecological objectives.

Forest Ecology and Management

Yet the novel is a piercing look at characters striving to retain their humanity amid fear, violence, and secrecy.

The New Yorker

Their fourth effort strives to retain the band's considerable rhythmic nous while further amplifying the bombast.

The Guardian - Music

Like others in rural France, they are striving to retain their roots in the face of environmental, industrial and commercial pressures.

The New York Times

For Mr. Christopher, though, a fast-food chain simply seems inappropriate on a block that has striven to retain its mom-and-pop stores.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strive to retain", ensure that the object you are trying to retain is clearly defined. For example, "The company should strive to retain its market share by improving customer service."

Common error

Avoid using "strive to retain" with abstract nouns that cannot be held or maintained. For example, instead of "strive to retain happiness", consider "strive to maintain a positive outlook".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to retain" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It indicates an effort or endeavor to keep or maintain something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found across various types of texts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "strive to retain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys an intentional effort to keep or maintain something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its application spans across various contexts, from News & Media and Science to Formal & Business settings, indicating its versatility and broad applicability. While alternative phrases like "endeavor to maintain" or "work towards preserving" exist, "strive to retain" offers a direct and clear way to express the proactive effort to prevent loss or decline. When employing this phrase, ensure the object of retention is clearly defined and avoid using it with intangible nouns for optimal clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to maintain

Replaces "strive" with "endeavor", adding a slightly more formal tone.

work towards preserving

Substitutes "strive" with "work towards" and "retain" with "preserving", focusing on conservation.

make an effort to keep

Breaks down "strive" into a more explicit phrase, "make an effort", and uses "keep" instead of "retain".

seek to preserve

Replaces "strive" with "seek", indicating an attempt, and uses "preserve" instead of "retain".

aim to conserve

Uses "aim" instead of "strive" and "conserve" instead of "retain", emphasizing careful use of resources.

try to safeguard

Replaces "strive" with "try" for a less formal tone and "retain" with "safeguard", implying protection.

attempt to uphold

Substitutes "strive" with "attempt" and "retain" with "uphold", suggesting maintaining standards.

dedicate oneself to maintaining

Replaces "strive" with a longer, more emphatic phrase "dedicate oneself to", and uses "maintaining" instead of "retain".

commit to preserving

Replaces "strive" with "commit to", showing a strong dedication, and uses "preserving" instead of "retain".

focus on sustaining

Uses "focus on" instead of "strive" and "sustaining" instead of "retain", emphasizing long-term maintenance.

FAQs

How can I use "strive to retain" in a sentence?

You can use "strive to retain" to express a determined effort to keep or maintain something. For example, "The organization must "strive to retain" its core values during periods of rapid growth."

What are some alternatives to "strive to retain"?

Alternatives include "endeavor to maintain", "work towards preserving", or "make an effort to keep", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "strive to retain" formal or informal?

"Strive to retain" is generally considered neutral to formal. While usable in most contexts, more informal options like "try to keep" may be more suitable for casual conversation.

What's the difference between "strive to retain" and "strive to maintain"?

While similar, "strive to maintain" implies an ongoing effort to keep something at a certain level, while ""strive to retain"" focuses on preventing loss or decline.