sustain the number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sustain the number" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear in meaning.
It could be used in contexts where maintaining or keeping a certain quantity or figure is necessary, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "In order to meet our goals, we need to sustain the number of active users on our platform."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Simon Ross, the chief executive of Population Matters, the UK's leading charity on population and sustainability issues, claimed that natural resources could not sustain the number of people in Britain or on the planet indefinitely.

The Guardian

"Now they're not even spending enough money to sustain the number of people who currently pay for housing through the voucher program.

The New York Times

"We can't sustain the number of people that we're going to need to feed over the next couple of decades with the current way that we're eating, " says Ms Stuckey.

The Economist

"At the end of the day, we're going to have a healthy fishery, but it will still not be able to sustain the number of fishermen that are in it now," said D. Douglas Hopkins, a lawyer with Environmental Defense and a member of the New England Fishery Management Council, which proposes regional regulations for approval by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The New York Times

This essay is not the place to discuss the capacity of the globe to sustain the number of people expected to populate the world in the next century, but certainly anything that produced greater numbers of people thousands of years ago must have been beneficial for mankind.

Stanford University

"Put simply, the current horse population is not able to satisfactorily sustain the number of races we have staged in recent years.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The Army has said the rule was required not just to sustain the numbers necessary to carry out two wars, but also to maintain continuity in leadership and cohesion within units that trained for and then were deploying to war.

The New York Times

On the other hand, if they sustain, the numbers point to Facebook's growing ads business, and perhaps a greater focus on its search window in the future.

TechCrunch

"Climax" sustained the number one position for eleven weeks, tying with his 1997 "You Make Me Wanna... ...... as his longest running number one single on the chart.

Wikipedia

If this rate of increase is sustained, the number of individuals without diabetes who undergo HbA1c testing each year may soon exceed the number of patients with diabetes tested.

BMC Health Services Research

She said: "We will be sustaining the numbers for a period of time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about maintaining a specific quantity, consider using more common alternatives like "maintain the quantity" or "preserve the amount" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "sustain the number" in casual contexts, as it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "keep the number up" in less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sustain the number" functions as a verb phrase, where "sustain" is the verb and "the number" is the direct object. It describes the action of maintaining a specific quantity. As noted by Ludwig AI, while understandable, it's not the most typical phrasing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sustain the number" implies maintaining a specific quantity or count, but, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not the most common phrasing. While grammatically acceptable and understandable, alternatives like "maintain the quantity" or "preserve the amount" may offer greater clarity and naturalness. The phrase appears primarily in news, scientific, and academic contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While not incorrect, writers should consider audience and context when choosing this phrasing to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain the quantity

Replaces "number" with "quantity", emphasizing amount rather than count.

preserve the amount

Swaps "sustain" for "preserve" and "number" for "amount", focusing on conservation.

keep up the total

Uses more informal language, replacing "sustain" with "keep up" and "number" with "total".

support the figure

Substitutes "sustain" with "support" and "number" with "figure", implying active assistance.

uphold the count

Replaces "sustain" with "uphold" and "number" with "count", suggesting a more formal maintenance.

continue the tally

Uses "continue" instead of "sustain" and "tally" instead of "number", focusing on an ongoing process.

hold steady the volume

Replaces "sustain" with "hold steady" and "number" with "volume", emphasizing stability.

stabilize the aggregate

Substitutes "sustain" with "stabilize" and "number" with "aggregate", indicating a balancing action.

ensure the level

Changes the focus to ensuring a certain level is kept, replacing "sustain" with "ensure" and "number" with "level".

retain the magnitude

Uses more formal terminology, swapping "sustain" for "retain" and "number" for "magnitude".

FAQs

What does "sustain the number" mean?

The phrase "sustain the number" refers to maintaining or supporting a particular quantity or count over a period of time. It implies preventing a decrease in that number.

How can I use "sustain the number" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe efforts to keep a certain quantity from falling, such as, "We need to implement new strategies to sustain the number of subscribers to our service."

What can I say instead of "sustain the number"?

You can use alternatives like "maintain the quantity", "preserve the amount", or "keep up the total" depending on the context.

Which is more common, "sustain the number" or "maintain the number"?

"Maintain the number" is generally more common and widely understood than "sustain the number". It is a more straightforward and frequently used phrasing.