was maintained by

USAGE SUMMARY

'was maintained by' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation that was kept in a certain state for a period of time and was looked after by someone or something. Example: The garden of the old house was maintained by a gardener for many years.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A similar silence was maintained by Feinstein, Hayden and Morrell.

The Guardian

A strict guard was maintained by the Russians as well as the Americans.

The New Yorker

The steam railway was maintained by volunteers who really loved those trains.

The Guardian - Film

Honor on the Southern frontier was maintained by a system of insults, quarrels and fights.

The New York Times - Books

Blood pressure was maintained by intermittent administration of phenylephrine.

JA Clinical Reports

Absolute time was maintained by the Global Positioning System.

Earth, Planets and Space

The anaerobic condition was maintained by sparging with nitrogen.

AMB Express

Water quality was maintained by external bioactive filter devices.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Aggression was maintained by access to specific preferred items.

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The pH of reaction was maintained by addition of NaOH.

Catalysis Today

Good surgical condition was maintained by TAP and RSB without any muscle relaxants.

JA Clinical Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was maintained by", ensure that the subject performing the maintenance is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The system was maintained by," specify "The system was maintained by the IT department."

Common error

While "was maintained by" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make writing seem indirect and less engaging. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice where appropriate: "The IT department maintained the system" is more direct than "The system was maintained by the IT department".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was maintained by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (maintenance) was performed on a subject by a specified agent. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase highlights the agent responsible for maintaining a certain state or condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

22%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was maintained by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive voice construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for indicating the entity responsible for preserving or upholding a particular state. It is especially common in scientific and news contexts, where clear attribution is essential. While versatile, writers should be mindful of passive voice overuse and consider active voice alternatives when appropriate. When you use "was maintained by", make sure that the responsible entity is explicitly stated to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was sustained through

Replaces "maintained" with "sustained" to emphasize the continuation of a state or condition due to a specific action or entity.

was upheld by

Substitutes "maintained" with "upheld", suggesting that the entity supported or defended the thing being maintained.

was preserved by

Replaces "maintained" with "preserved", highlighting the act of keeping something in its original condition by a particular factor.

was supported by

Changes "maintained" to "supported", focusing on the assistance or backing provided by the entity.

was kept up by

Uses the phrasal verb "kept up" instead of "maintained" to indicate the continuous effort to keep something in good condition.

was regulated by

Changes "maintained" to "regulated", implying a more formal control or management by the specified agent.

was administered by

Replaces "maintained" with "administered", indicating that the entity managed or oversaw the thing being maintained.

was overseen by

Substitutes "maintained" with "overseen", which suggests that the entity supervised and ensured the proper functioning.

was looked after by

Uses a more informal phrasal verb, "looked after", instead of "maintained", indicating care and attention provided by the entity.

was cared for by

Similar to "looked after", this alternative emphasizes the element of care and concern given to something by a particular entity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was maintained by" to use active voice?

To convert "was maintained by" to active voice, rearrange the sentence to emphasize the actor. For example, "The garden was maintained by the gardener" becomes "The gardener maintained the garden".

What are some synonyms for "was maintained by" that I can use in my writing?

Alternatives to "was maintained by" include "was sustained through", "was upheld by", or "was preserved by" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "was maintained by" or a more direct phrase?

The choice depends on the context and desired emphasis. "Was maintained by" is useful when you want to highlight the object being maintained. A more direct phrase is suitable when you want to emphasize the actor performing the maintenance.

Can "was maintained by" be used in both formal and informal writing?

Yes, "was maintained by" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, consider the overall tone of your writing and choose alternatives if they better fit the style.