while remaining

USAGE SUMMARY

"while remaining" is a perfectly valid phrase to use in written English.
It is often used to describe something that stays the same in the face of something else changing. For example, "The company's profits declined sharply last quarter, while remaining well ahead of its competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And she did this while remaining a determinedly private person.

The Guardian

While remaining extremely complex.

The New York Times - Sports

You cannot compromise while remaining absolute.

Independent

They are more relaxed, while remaining competitive.

The New York Times - Sports

Her study reflects this familiarity while remaining analytically rigorous.

Cornell University

After this, things tail off, while remaining enjoyable stuff.

The Guardian

They show intensity and elegance while remaining fresh and vivacious.

The New York Times - Food

And can she do so while remaining quintessentially Anne?

The New York Times - Magazine

Even while remaining traditional, the Wizards found versatility.

The Washington Post

How can businesses close pay gaps while remaining competitive?

The Guardian

"We were aggressive while remaining prudent from a business perspective".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while remaining" to clearly indicate simultaneous actions or states, ensuring that the sentence structure emphasizes both aspects equally.

Common error

Avoid using "while remaining" in overly complex sentences where simpler conjunctions like "and" or "but" would provide greater clarity. Overuse can lead to convoluted prose and obscure the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while remaining" functions as a conjunction, linking two clauses where one action or state occurs concurrently with another. It indicates that something persists or stays constant even as something else changes or happens. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

27%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while remaining" functions as a conjunction to connect two simultaneous actions or states, indicating continuity amidst change. It is grammatically correct and versatile across various contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage is common in news, academic, and scientific writing, exhibiting a neutral to slightly formal register. When writing, it's advisable to use this construction in moderation, ensuring that it enhances rather than complicates sentence clarity. The most frequent sources where the phrase is found includes Huffington Post, The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whilst staying

Replaces "remaining" with "staying", emphasizing the act of continuing in a state or condition.

whilst keeping

Replaces "remaining" with "keeping", focusing on the act of retaining something.

even as it stays

Adds emphasis on simultaneous action; more descriptive and less concise.

yet still being

Highlights a contrast or unexpected continuation. Implies a slight surprise.

and simultaneously being

Emphasizes the simultaneity of the two conditions, making it more formal.

in spite of being

Focuses on the contrast, suggesting a challenge to the continuous state.

whilst it persists in being

Highlights a stubborn persistence, more emphatic and somewhat verbose.

during its state of continuation

Very formal and verbose, suitable only for highly technical or legal contexts.

in the process of continuous existence

Stresses that the existing state it's continuing its course. Wordy and less direct.

even during its maintenance of

Very formal and emphasizes the active effort to maintain the state.

FAQs

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

Use "while remaining" to show that something stays the same even when something else changes. For example, "The company's profits declined, "while remaining" well ahead of its competitors".

What are some alternatives to "while remaining"?

Alternatives include "whilst staying", "even as it stays", or "yet still being". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "while remaining"?

While grammatically correct, overuse of "while remaining" in complex sentences can reduce clarity. Simpler conjunctions may be more effective in certain contexts.

What's the difference between "while remaining" and "while retaining"?

"While remaining" implies continuing in a state, whereas "while retaining" suggests actively keeping or preserving something. Choose the phrase that best reflects the active or passive nature of the continuity.