they maintained that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they maintained that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting someone's assertion or belief about a particular issue or topic. Example: "In their research, they maintained that climate change is primarily driven by human activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

They maintained that lead by winning two of the first three games after the break.

The New York Times - Sports

They maintained that belief even when a gun-wielding, balaclava-clad militant with an apparent Australian accent surfaced in an August 2005 al-Qaida propaganda tape.

The Guardian

The difference between groups will be examined to identify if they maintained that loss.

BMC Public Health

They maintained that lack of competent managers at all levels fosters "vertical" health programmes that have narrow targets and are centrally planned [ 12].

BMC Health Services Research

They maintained that article 100a also permitted internal market regulation without a liberalising effect: 'the power conferred on the Council by that provision is not necessarily concerned with the liberalisation of trade, but rather with market regulation.

BMC Health Services Research

They maintained that the process was transparent.

The New York Times

Publicly they maintained that there was not yet enough evidence to make such an assertion.

The New York Times

They maintained that theirs was the only party that could be counted on to protect Medicare.

The New York Times

And they maintained that she had promoted herself as a model seeking paid employment.

The Guardian

They maintained that "the only negotiation is war", and seven years of conflict ensued.

The Guardian

But they maintained that the Supreme Court's ruling undercut the Republicans' case.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance of "maintained". It implies a consistent stance. If the opinion has changed, use a different verb like "claimed" or "stated".

Common error

While "they maintained that" is grammatically sound, avoid overuse in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "asserted", "claimed", or "argued" to enhance readability and prevent repetitiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they maintained that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing a statement, belief, or assertion held by a particular group. As shown in Ludwig, it serves to present a viewpoint, argument, or claim that the group consistently supports. It commonly appears in news articles, academic papers, and general discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they maintained that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to report a consistent assertion or belief held by a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While synonyms like "they asserted that" or "they claimed that" exist, "maintained" emphasizes a persistent stance. The phrase is most common in news and media, science, and encyclopedic sources, making it generally suitable for neutral to professional registers. When writing, ensure the pronoun "they" is clear and consider the potential for overuse by varying your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they asserted that

Replaces "maintained" with "asserted", implying a strong declaration.

they claimed that

Substitutes "maintained" with "claimed", suggesting a declaration that may be open to question.

they contended that

Uses "contended" instead of "maintained", indicating an argument or dispute.

they insisted that

Replaces "maintained" with "insisted", emphasizing the firmness of their assertion.

they argued that

Substitutes "maintained" with "argued", highlighting the presentation of reasons or evidence.

they affirmed that

Uses "affirmed" instead of "maintained", indicating a formal declaration of truth.

they held that

Replaces "maintained" with "held", implying a belief or opinion.

they posited that

Substitutes "maintained" with "posited", indicating a suggestion or hypothesis.

they professed that

Uses "professed" instead of "maintained", suggesting an open declaration of belief.

they declared that

Replaces "maintained" with "declared", emphasizing a formal or official announcement.

FAQs

What does "they maintained that" mean?

The phrase "they maintained that" means that a group of people consistently asserted or claimed something to be true, often in the face of potential disagreement or doubt.

What can I say instead of "they maintained that"?

You can use alternatives like "they asserted that", "they claimed that", or "they argued that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "they maintained that" formal or informal?

"They maintained that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider alternatives like "they asserted that" for added emphasis.

How does "they maintained that" differ from "they claimed that"?

While both phrases indicate an assertion, "they maintained that" suggests a continued or consistent stance, whereas "they claimed that" simply indicates an assertion without necessarily implying consistency.