would rather keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would rather keep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a preference for maintaining something over other options. Example: "I would rather keep my old car than buy a new one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Personally, I would rather keep it at bay.

Independent

Unsurprisingly, some churches would rather keep these weapons out.

The Economist

"So we would rather keep the same number of seats.

The New York Times

They would rather keep doing traditional work that sells.

The Guardian - Travel

One senses she would rather keep her private life private.

The New York Times

Again, because I would rather keep using the same fly".

The New York Times - Sports

But Ms. Spencer-Wendel would rather keep the reader in a well-lighted place.

The New York Times - Health

And most policy makers would rather keep the money in Washington.

The New York Times

The very rich, it seems, would rather keep their options open than their kitchens.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not surprisingly, higher wage earners and Republicans and Independents would rather keep government out of the conversation.

Stanford University

You will hear from those who would rather keep their Grateful Dead passions private for reasons both personal and professional.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would rather keep" to clearly express a preference for maintaining a current state or possession. For example, "I "would rather keep" my current job than look for a new one."

Common error

Ensure the context clearly indicates what the alternative to keeping something is. Avoid vague statements like "I "would rather keep" it" without specifying what 'it' refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would rather keep" functions as a conditional construction, expressing a preference for maintaining a certain state or possession over another implied or stated alternative. It is used to indicate a choice favoring preservation or retention, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would rather keep" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating a preference to maintain or retain something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, with a neutral formality level. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, followed by academic and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the alternative being rejected to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "prefer to maintain", "prefer to retain", or "would prefer to hold on to" to fine-tune your expression of preference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prefer to maintain

Focuses on the act of maintaining something in a preferred state.

prefer to retain

Emphasizes keeping something rather than losing it.

would prefer to hold on to

Highlights the action of holding onto something as the preferred option.

would sooner retain

Similar to "would rather", but uses "sooner" to indicate preference.

would choose to keep

Directly states the act of choosing to keep something.

desire to preserve

Focuses on the desire to keep something in its current condition.

wish to maintain

Expresses a desire to maintain something.

lean towards keeping

Indicates a tendency or inclination to keep something.

favor maintaining

Highlights favoring the action of maintaining.

opt to preserve

Focuses on making a conscious choice to preserve something.

FAQs

What does "would rather keep" mean?

The phrase "would rather keep" expresses a preference for maintaining or retaining something, indicating that the speaker favors keeping it over another option.

How can I use "would rather keep" in a sentence?

You can use "would rather keep" to show a preference. For example: "I "would rather keep" my old car than buy a new one", or "They "would rather keep" the information private."

What are some alternatives to "would rather keep"?

Alternatives include "prefer to maintain", "prefer to retain", or "would prefer to hold on to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "would rather keep"?

Yes, "would rather keep" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express a preference. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.