would have sustained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have sustained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where something could have been maintained or supported under different circumstances. Example: "If the funding had been approved, the project would have sustained its momentum and achieved its goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"We were looking for breakthrough technologies so we would have sustained competitive advantages".

The New York Times

It's hard to think of any other proprietor who would have sustained its huge losses year after year.

The Guardian

The ministry of defence said that without his presence "it is likely that his troop would have sustained multiple casualties".

The Guardian

Had it done so, the majority hints, we would have sustained its authority to regulate possession of firearms in school zones.

Cornell University

Phillips flatly rejected the notion that just compensation may be reduced by transaction costs the former owner would have sustained in retaining his property.

Cornell University

The airline said it had broken off negotiations with Boeing for an order for 200 jets that would have sustained a wave of growth from 2013 to 2016.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Had it become law, the VA would've sustained billions of dollars in budget cuts, forcing smaller facilities to shut down in rural areas.

Huffington Post

Plaintiff alleges that if defendant had provided adequate supervision, Michael would never have left the school premises and would not have sustained his subsequent injuries.

Harvard University

"I firmly believe we had a team that would have been in the playoffs if we wouldn't have sustained the injuries we had," Snow said.

The New York Times - Sports

Tidal heating, such as from the resonance with Dione or from libration, would then have sustained these hot spots in the core and would power the current geological activity.

Wikipedia

64 Organs would be more likely to be viable, since they would not have sustained a period of reduced circulation prior to retrieval.

Bioethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would have sustained", ensure the conditional clause (the 'if' part of the sentence) is clearly stated or implied to provide context for the hypothetical situation.

Common error

Avoid using "would have sustained" without a clear understanding of the hypothetical context. Ensure it's evident what conditions would have needed to be met for the sustaining to occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have sustained" functions as a modal construction indicating a hypothetical past action. It suggests that under different circumstances, something could have been maintained or prolonged. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have sustained" is a versatile phrase used to express hypothetical past scenarios where something could have been maintained or prolonged. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "could have maintained" or "might have supported", it's essential to use "would have sustained" with a clearly defined hypothetical context. Avoiding "would of sustained" and ensuring proper conditional clauses are crucial for accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have maintained

Replaces "would" with "could", suggesting possibility rather than certainty of sustaining.

might have supported

Substitutes "sustained" with "supported", implying a bolstering effect rather than continuation.

could have prolonged

Uses "prolonged" instead of "sustained", focusing on extending the duration.

would have preserved

Replaces "sustained" with "preserved", emphasizing the act of keeping something intact.

would have ensured the continuation of

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the ensuring of continuation.

would have facilitated the survival of

Focuses on enabling survival rather than simple maintenance.

would have kept afloat

An idiomatic expression suggesting preventing something from failing or collapsing.

would have undergirded

A more formal and less common word for supported, emphasizing the foundational aspect.

would have buoyed up

Implies a lifting or encouraging effect, suggesting more active support.

would have reinforced

Highlights strengthening and solidifying rather than mere continuation.

FAQs

How can I use "would have sustained" in a sentence?

The phrase "would have sustained" is used to describe a hypothetical situation in the past where something could have continued or been supported if certain conditions were met. For example, "If the company had invested in marketing, it "would have sustained" its growth."

What are some alternatives to "would have sustained"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "could have maintained", "might have supported", or "could have prolonged".

Is it correct to say "would of sustained" instead of "would have sustained"?

No, "would of sustained" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "would have sustained". "Would've" is a contraction of "would have", but "would of" is never correct.

What's the difference between "would have sustained" and "could have sustained"?

"Would have sustained" suggests a higher degree of certainty that something would have continued under certain conditions. "Could have sustained" implies a possibility, but not a certainty. The choice depends on the level of confidence in the hypothetical outcome.