to keep track of

USAGE SUMMARY

"to keep track of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to monitor or maintain a record of something. Example: As a project manager, it is important to keep track of all tasks and deadlines to ensure the project stays on schedule.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No bothersome subplots to keep track of.

The New York Times - Magazine

Trying to keep track of everything lost?

The New Yorker

How to keep track of it?

The Guardian - Travel

"Just another thing to keep track of".

The New York Times

*** Isn't this an awful lot to keep track of?

The New York Times

She could be elusive, hard to keep track of.

Independent

It's enough just to keep track of our guys".

The New York Times - Sports

It's getting hard to keep track of them.

The New Yorker

It requires some bookkeeping to keep track of pairs.

The New York Times

Some issue identification cards to keep track of their people.

The New Yorker

Farmers use R.F.I.D. tags to keep track of cattle.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, you can replace this phrase with "to monitor" or "to maintain a record of" to sound more precise.

Common error

Avoid the common phonetic error of writing "to keep tract of". A 'tract' refers to a large area of land or a system of organs (like the digestive tract), while 'track' refers to a path or record.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to keep track of" functions as a complex transitive verb phrase. It typically consists of the verb 'keep', the noun 'track' and the preposition 'of', which together act as a single unit to govern a direct object. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in infinitive constructions to indicate purpose or necessity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

55%

News & Media

40%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to keep track of" is a vital idiomatic expression used to describe the act of monitoring, recording or staying informed about a subject. Ludwig AI shows that it is extremely common across all genres of English writing, from high-level journalism in The New York Times to practical advice on WikiHow. While it is grammatically correct and widely accepted, writers should be careful not to confuse 'track' with 'tract'. For more formal contexts, consider using "to monitor" to achieve a more technical tone. Overall, it is an essential phrase for anyone discussing project management, financial oversight or general organization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to keep tabs on

Adds a slightly more informal or watchful nuance, often used regarding people or competitive activities.

to maintain a record of

Shifts focus to the formal documentation and archiving process rather than just monitoring.

to monitor

A more technical and professional term often used in scientific or medical contexts.

to stay on top of

Emphasizes active control and preventing oneself from being overwhelmed by a task.

to keep a tally of

Specifically refers to the act of counting or maintaining a numerical total.

to keep an eye on

Focuses on visual observation and vigilance rather than necessarily keeping a written record.

to log

Emphasizes the specific action of entering data into a system or journal.

to oversee

Implies a position of authority or management over a process rather than just observing it.

to follow the progress of

Highlights the developmental stages of a project or person over a timeline.

to document

Focuses on the creation of evidence or permanent records for a specific subject.

FAQs

How do I use "to keep track of" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe monitoring something over time, for example: "It is hard "to keep track of" all the new software updates."

What is a more formal way to say "to keep track of"?

In professional or academic writing, you might prefer using "to monitor", "to oversee" or "to log" depending on the specific activity.

What is the opposite of "to keep track of"?

The most common antonym is "to lose track of", which means to fail to stay informed or aware of something's status.

Can I use "to keep track of" in business emails?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. However, for a more proactive tone, you could use "to stay on top of" when discussing deadlines or project management.