sustain control

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sustain control" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where maintaining or preserving authority, influence, or oversight is necessary. Example: "In order to ensure the project's success, the manager must sustain control over the team's progress and direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The bed nets donated will help save lives and sustain control efforts.

The New York Times

In the short term, recruiting local forces to defend their own community can be a low-cost way to sustain control of disputed territory.

The Washington Post

That's the thing we've learned as a team and personally as this year has progressed, is to sustain control on the bench.

The New York Times - Sports

Aside from Iraq's lack of resources to finance this rehabilitation, it also lacks a regular military that is capable, and that has the support of local populations to sustain control of territories captured from Isis.

The Guardian - Opinion

PD Palace reject Tottenham's £15m bid for Zaha Palace sign Liverpool's Benteke for £27m on four-year deal David Moyes is an excellent fit as the Sunderland manager; he is proven as an astute spotter of talent, and also able to sustain control of a club for an extended period of time.

The Guardian - Sport

However, obviously, the president cannot rule the country and sustain control while half of the country is opposing him unless he uses dictatorial powers to oppress the opposition.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This type of kiln was able to sustain controlled, high temperatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We report an elite controller who, following myeloablation and full HIV reactivation, achieved sustained control of viremia.

Clinical Infectious Diseases

However, at present, it is unclear how to best engineer T cells so that sustained control over HIV-1 replication can be achieved in the absence of antiretrovirals.

Molecular Therapy

Charlemagne was thus heir to a long tradition that measured a king by his success at war, which in turn required him to devise means of governance capable of sustaining control over an increasingly polyglot population.

Britannica

Unlike Libya, where much of the coastal core of the population lived under rebel control, the opposition to Syria's dictatorial president, Bashar al-Assad, has not achieved sustained control of any major population area.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sustain control", consider the context to determine if a more specific verb like "maintain", "retain", or "preserve" would be more appropriate to convey the nuance of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "sustain control" excessively in formal writing. Vary your language by incorporating synonyms such as "maintain authority" or "retain oversight" to enhance readability and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sustain control" functions as a verb-noun construction, where "sustain" (verb) indicates the action of maintaining or prolonging, and "control" (noun) represents the authority or influence being maintained. This structure commonly describes the act of keeping something in a stable or desired state. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sustain control" effectively conveys the idea of maintaining or prolonging authority or influence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and usable in English. While synonyms like "maintain control" and "retain control" offer similar meanings, the choice depends on the specific context. It appears most frequently in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Remember to consider the nuances of each alternative when crafting your writing to accurately reflect the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain control

This alternative focuses on keeping control in its current state, similar to "sustain control".

retain control

This alternative emphasizes the act of continuing to hold control.

preserve control

This alternative highlights the act of protecting control from being lost or diminished.

ensure control

This alternative shifts the focus to making certain that control is maintained.

secure control

This alternative underscores the act of firmly establishing control.

uphold control

This alternative suggests maintaining control in the face of opposition or challenges.

extend control

This alternative implies expanding the scope or duration of control.

continue to control

This alternative is a more verbose way of expressing the continuation of control.

keep control

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way to express the idea of maintaining control.

hold onto control

This alternative emphasizes the act of clinging to control, often in a challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "sustain control" in a sentence?

You can use "sustain control" to describe the act of maintaining authority or influence, as in: "The president needed to take drastic measures to sustain control over the government."

What are some alternatives to "sustain control"?

Alternatives to "sustain control" include "maintain control", "retain control", and "preserve control".

Which is more appropriate, "sustain control" or "maintain control"?

Both "sustain control" and "maintain control" are correct, but "maintain control" is often more commonly used and might sound more natural in certain contexts.

What does it mean to "sustain control" in a political context?

In a political context, "sustain control" often refers to a leader's ability to maintain power or authority, often through specific strategies or actions.