while keeping

USAGE SUMMARY

"while keeping" is an acceptable part of a sentence.
It is often used in the context of indicating that something is being done in parallel, or at the same time, as another activity. For example: "She kept a close watch on her children while keeping an eye on the clock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's worse than losing a knighthood while keeping the pension.

The Guardian

He tried to console them while keeping his distance.

Independent

Q. — while keeping that initial melody somehow intact.

The New York Times - Arts

Turkey has turned against him, while keeping diplomatic avenues open.

The Economist

It broadcast civility, while keeping its private meanings to itself.

The New Yorker

Amperometry monitors electric current (amperes) while keeping the potential constant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Managing intermittency while keeping the system reliable can add costs.

The Guardian

He can do that while keeping his American citizenship.

The New York Times

The Knife performed the songs while keeping its enigmas intact.

The New York Times - Arts

It could lose funding while keeping the inefficiencies.

The Guardian

while keeping z.

Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while keeping" to clearly indicate that two actions are happening concurrently. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures that the reader understands the temporal relationship between the events.

Common error

Avoid using "while keeping" in overly complex sentences where the relationship between the clauses becomes unclear. Simplify the sentence or break it into two separate sentences for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while keeping" functions as a conjunction, connecting two clauses and indicating that the actions described in both clauses occur simultaneously. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "while keeping" is a versatile conjunction used to indicate simultaneous actions or states. Grammatically sound and widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig, it's frequently found in news, science, and general writing contexts. While synonyms like ""whilst maintaining"" or ""while preserving"" offer subtle variations, "while keeping" remains a straightforward and effective way to convey concurrency. Ludwig's examples also highlight its correct and varied application, making it an excellent choice for clear and concise writing. When clarity is paramount in complex sentences, simplification should be preferred over using "while keeping".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously maintaining

Emphasizes the concurrency of two actions and the intent to actively maintain.

whilst retaining

Substitutes "keeping" with "retaining", implying the preservation of something already possessed.

while preserving

Uses "preserving" instead of "keeping", highlighting the act of protecting something from harm or change.

whilst maintaining

Replaces "keeping" with "maintaining", suggesting a more active effort to preserve something during another action.

as well as safeguarding

Adds an element of protection or defense to the act of keeping something.

whilst upholding

Implies the maintaining of a principle or law.

while simultaneously holding

Replaces "keeping" with "simultaneously holding", making explicit the concurrent nature of the action and emphasizes maintaining a grip.

in conjunction with conserving

Emphasizes combined action with a focus on conserving something.

at the same time as conserving

Rephrases to emphasize the temporal overlap and the careful management of resources.

during the continuation of

More formal phrasing to indicate an action taking place as something else continues.

FAQs

How can I use "while keeping" in a sentence?

Use "while keeping" to indicate that two actions or states are happening at the same time. For example, "He exercised "while keeping" his heart rate within a target range."

What are some alternatives to "while keeping"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "whilst maintaining", "whilst retaining", or "while preserving".

Is it ever incorrect to use "while keeping"?

While generally correct, using "while keeping" can be awkward if the sentence structure is already complex. In such cases, consider rephrasing for clarity.

What's the difference between "while keeping" and "while maintaining"?

"While keeping" suggests a general act of retaining something, while "while maintaining" implies a more active effort to preserve or uphold something.