we were maintaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were maintaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an ongoing action or state of upkeep in the past. Example: "During the project, we were maintaining the equipment to ensure it functioned properly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Another priest said to me, 'We thought we were maintaining our celibacy vow if we fooled around with boys and not girls.' " "There was no appreciation whatsoever of the impact on a child's life or development," Rezendes said.

The New Yorker

Carl came to the office every day until three weeks ago, engaged to the end, ever watchful that we were maintaining the standards for AEA that he and the Founders had established over 40 years ago.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We're maintaining an open dialogue for further opportunities".

The New York Times

It is pleasing that we are maintaining a consistent level".

Independent

We are not changing our forecasts on this statement and we are maintaining our hold recommendation.

The Guardian - Business

We are aware of the situation and we are maintaining a watching brief".

The Guardian - Sport

"We have our red lines and we are maintaining them," he said.

The New York Times

"We're maintaining security for the upper harbor," Commander Smialek said.

The New York Times

"His presence reminds fans that we are maintaining the integrity of the franchise".

The New York Times

We are maintaining our hold recommendation and target price of 760p.

The Guardian - Business

"We are maintaining close contact to stay up on the status of this investigation".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were maintaining" to clearly express the continuation of an action or state in the past, especially when emphasizing upkeep or preservation.

Common error

Avoid using "we were maintaining" when a simpler verb like "kept" or "continued" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were maintaining" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a continuous action in the past. According to Ludwig, it is used to describe the ongoing process of preserving or upkeeping something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were maintaining" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action of preservation or upkeep in the past. Ludwig's analysis shows that while grammatically sound, it is relatively rare. It finds its use in contexts like news and media, as well as scientific writing. The register is typically neutral. The key is to use it when you specifically want to emphasize the continuous nature of the action, rather than just stating a simple fact about maintaining something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were preserving

Focuses on keeping something intact or preventing it from being damaged.

we were conserving

Implies careful use of resources to avoid depletion.

we were sustaining

Highlights the ability to keep something going over time.

we were upholding

Emphasizes adherence to a standard or principle.

we were keeping up

Indicates effort to stay at the same level or pace.

we were continuing

Focuses on the uninterrupted progression of an activity.

we were retaining

Highlights the act of keeping something in possession.

we were guarding

Emphasizes protecting something from harm or unwanted changes.

we were overseeing

Implies responsibility for managing or supervising something.

we were superintending

Suggests directing and controlling resources to reach an objective.

FAQs

How can I use "we were maintaining" in a sentence?

You can use "we were maintaining" to describe an ongoing action of upkeep or preservation in the past. For instance, "We were maintaining the equipment to ensure it functioned properly."

What are some alternatives to "we were maintaining"?

You can use alternatives like "we were preserving", "we were conserving", or "we were sustaining" depending on the specific context.

Is "we were maintaining" formal or informal?

"We were maintaining" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is often found in more professional or news-related writing.

Which is correct, "we were maintaining" or "we maintained"?

Both "we were maintaining" and "we maintained" are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "We were maintaining" suggests an ongoing action in the past, while "we maintained" simply states that you kept something in a certain condition.