sustain development

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sustain development" is not correct in English; the correct term is "sustainable development." You can use "sustainable development" when discussing practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Example: "The conference focused on strategies for promoting sustainable development in urban areas."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Environmental planning is for natural or urbanized regions or substantial areas within them, in which the impact of development upon land and natural systems, their capacity to carry and sustain development, or their needs for preservation and conservation are analyzed exhaustively and developed as constraints upon urban design and master, land, and site planning.

Encyclopedia Britannica

John McVay A large part of that money helps to cover the deficits for UK programming to sustain development spend.

The Guardian

Ending conflicts would open the single greatest pathway to global development; the best way to save lives; the best way to foster a generation of children ready, willing and able to sustain development into the future.

The Guardian

"There is insufficient capital within Indonesia to sustain development over the next few years," said John Dodsworth, senior Indonesian representative for the International Monetary Fund, which is overseeing a $43 billion international economic aid package to the country.

The New York Times

Because the handset business requires a large sales volume to be profitable and to sustain development, many analysts expect BlackBerry to focus its remaining resources on software and services for corporations.

The New York Times - Tech

Still, a real estate study by the Urban Land Institute last year suggested San Diego was better suited to sustain development than other places.More than a dozen projects are under construction downtown, including some 632 hotel rooms and 48,000 square feet of commercial office and retail space, Mr. Alessi noted.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Integrate key elements of the FEP into the MNE/MOH system to disseminate and sustain developments.

Unicef

In his remarks this morning, Mr. Powell acknowledged that "an unfettered market alone does not guarantee sustained development".

The New York Times

Frustrating because there have been false dawns – victories over their pool rivals Ireland and France in the Six Nations – but no sustained development.

The Guardian - Sport

Somalia also needs to be given the opportunity to rebuild its infrastructure, hospitals and schools, without which sustained development cannot take place.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jones, praised Dr. Winn Barlow as a "wise, warm and witty educator who so ably guided Brearley through a period of sustained development and improvement".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the term "sustainable development" instead of "sustain development" to refer to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Common error

A common mistake is using "sustain development" when "sustainable development" is intended. "Sustainable development" is a widely recognized term referring to practices that ensure long-term environmental and economic viability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sustain development" functions as a verb + noun phrase, where "sustain" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object. However, according to Ludwig AI, this specific construction is considered grammatically questionable, thus it is better to use the form "sustainable development".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sustain development" might appear in various contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the preferred and widely accepted term is "sustainable development", which refers to development that meets present needs without compromising future generations. Though there are examples of its use, primarily in science and news contexts, it's essential to recognize the established convention and opt for "sustainable development" for clearer and more accurate communication. When aiming to convey the idea of maintaining or supporting development, using alternatives like "maintain development" or "support development" can also provide clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain development

Replaces "sustain" with "maintain", implying a continuous effort to keep development at a certain level.

support development

Substitutes "sustain" with "support", indicating providing assistance for development to continue.

ensure development

Changes "sustain" to "ensure", focusing on guaranteeing that development happens or continues.

promote development

Replaces "sustain" with "promote", shifting the focus to actively encouraging and advancing development.

foster development

Similar to "promote", but implies creating a conducive environment for development to thrive.

encourage development

Indicates giving motivation and support for development to occur.

underpin development

Replaces "sustain" to "underpin", it implies that development needs a good foundation to grow in the right direction.

advance development

Indicates progress or improvement in the state of development.

fuel development

Use "fuel" instead of "sustain" implies that something is given for development to grow.

nourish development

Replaces "sustain" to "nourish", it means to provide development with what is necessary to grow in the right direction.

FAQs

What is the difference between "sustain development" and "sustainable development"?

"Sustain development" is grammatically incorrect. The correct term is "sustainable development", which refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Why is "sustain development" considered grammatically incorrect?

While "sustain" means to maintain or support, it's typically used with a noun that represents an action or state rather than the broad concept of "development". The established term is "sustainable development".

What are some alternative phrases to "sustain development" that I can use?

While the exact phrase is not recommended, you can use terms like "maintain development", "support development", or focus on the concept of "sustainable development".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "sustain development"?

Although not grammatically correct, the phrase might appear in informal contexts or where the writer intended to convey the idea of making development efforts long-lasting or viable. However, "sustainable development" is always the preferred term.