while retaining

USAGE SUMMARY

"while retaining" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is being kept or maintained, even while other activities are taking place. For example, "We are continually looking for ways to improve our business while retaining our commitment to excellence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Malkin has since been naturalized while retaining Israeli citizenship.

The New York Times - Arts

The government took those decisions while retaining social cohesion.

The Guardian - Business

But Dreiser drops the auxiliary verbs while retaining the participles.

The New Yorker

The plants were selectively bred to be bigger and tastier, while retaining their wild vigour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That was tough enough, but near impossible to achieve while retaining a clear sense of womanhood.

The Guardian - Arts

The group descends into anarchy, while retaining just enough ingrained courtesy to remain human.

The Guardian - Music

While retaining Latin roots, the firm has built widely around the world.

The New York Times - Arts

Carthon was named assistant head coach, while retaining duties as the tutor of the running backs.

The New York Times - Sports

You will remain current with suppliers while retaining use of your funds as long as possible".

The New York Times

Mr. Arafat has long played factions and subordinates off against one another while retaining sole control.

The New York Times

It has full access to the single market while retaining its own currency.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "while retaining", ensure that the two actions or states are genuinely concurrent and that the thing being retained is essential to the context. This emphasizes the importance of not sacrificing a key element during a process of change or adaptation.

Common error

Avoid using "while retaining" when the element being retained is trivial or irrelevant to the main action. This can dilute the emphasis and make the sentence less impactful. Instead, reserve this phrase for situations where maintaining something is a significant consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while retaining" functions as a conjunction, linking two clauses where one action or state occurs simultaneously with another, ensuring that a particular aspect is preserved. It emphasizes continuity and preservation amidst change. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating its use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academic

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while retaining" is a versatile conjunction phrase used to indicate the simultaneous occurrence of two actions, emphasizing that something important is kept or maintained. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is grammatically correct and common across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. To use it effectively, ensure that the element being retained is genuinely essential and relevant to the main action, adding significant value to the sentence. Alternatives such as "whilst maintaining" or "without sacrificing" can be employed to add nuance or variety to your writing, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whilst preserving

Replaces 'retaining' with 'preserving', emphasizing the act of maintaining something in its original state during another action.

whilst maintaining

Substitutes 'retaining' with 'maintaining', highlighting the continuous effort to keep something in a certain condition.

at the same time keeping

Rephrases the idea using 'at the same time', making it more explicit that two actions are happening concurrently.

without sacrificing

Focuses on avoiding loss or compromise of something valuable during another action.

whilst upholding

Replaces 'retaining' with 'upholding', which implies a duty or responsibility to maintain something.

while ensuring the survival of

This alternative highlights the active measures taken to protect and preserve something in a changing environment.

in tandem with preserving

Implies two actions happening simultaneously and in coordination, focusing on the preservation aspect.

concurrently conserving

Emphasizes the simultaneous nature of actions and focus on active conservation efforts.

keeping intact whilst

Changes the order of the phrase and stresses that something remains undamaged or unchanged during another activity.

without losing

Focuses on the avoidance of losing something, and emphasizes the negative aspect of losing something.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "while retaining" in a sentence?

Use "while retaining" to show that an essential quality or feature is maintained despite other changes. For example, "The company modernized its operations "while retaining" its core values."

What are some alternatives to "while retaining"?

Alternatives include phrases like "whilst maintaining", "whilst preserving", or "without sacrificing depending on the specific nuance you want to convey."

How does "while retaining" differ from "while maintaining"?

While both indicate keeping something during another action, "retaining" suggests keeping something from being lost or changed, while "maintaining" suggests actively preserving its current state. The choice depends on whether the emphasis is on preventing loss or actively preserving the status quo.

Is it more formal to use "while retaining" or "whilst retaining"?

"Whilst retaining" is slightly more formal and common in British English, whereas "while retaining" is more common in American English and considered generally acceptable across different registers.