would retain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would retain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a conditional situation where something is kept or maintained under certain circumstances. Example: "If the company implements these changes, it would retain its competitive edge in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Campbell Soup would retain its businesses in Britain and Denmark.

The New York Times

The taxpayer would retain that bank.

The Guardian - Business

Philip Morris would retain the remainder.

The New York Times

Bertelsmann would retain the other 75percentt.

The New York Times

But Gulko would retain a slight initiative.

The New York Times

It would retain or increase its dominance in Lebanon.

The New York Times

The governments would retain golden shares for emergency use.

The Economist

Schools would retain a 1 September cut-off date.

Independent

And the Democrats would retain 59 seats.(Photo credit: AFP).

The Economist

In France, cities would retain authority to set precise rules.

The New York Times

Still, the city said the graduates would retain their diplomas.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would retain" when you want to express a conditional situation where something remains in its current state or possession if a certain action or condition is met. For instance, "If the company invests in training, it would retain its skilled employees."

Common error

Avoid using "would retain" when a simple "keep" or "maintain" suffices. "Retain" implies a deliberate effort to preserve something, so it's less appropriate for situations where retention is automatic or incidental. For instance, avoid saying "The cup would retain water" when "The cup holds water" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would retain" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a conditional future action of keeping or maintaining something. As Ludwig AI points out, it suggests a scenario where something is preserved if a specific condition is met. The examples illustrate various contexts where entities "would retain" assets, rights, or positions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would retain" is a common and grammatically correct modal verb phrase used to express a conditional future action of keeping or maintaining something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently found in news, business, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "would keep" or "would maintain" exist, "would retain" specifically suggests a deliberate effort to preserve something under certain circumstances. Remember to use "retain" when implying a conscious effort to preserve and avoid it in situations where simple possession is described. The high frequency and authoritative source usage underscores its reliability in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would keep

A more direct synonym, focusing on maintaining possession or condition.

would maintain

Emphasizes the effort required to preserve something in its current state.

would preserve

Highlights the act of protecting something from harm or change.

would hold on to

Suggests a reluctance to let go of something, often implying sentimental value.

would continue to have

Focuses on the ongoing possession of something.

would not relinquish

Emphasizes the refusal to give up something.

would safeguard

Implies an active effort to protect and defend something.

would secure

Focuses on ensuring the continued availability or possession of something.

would uphold

Suggests maintaining a standard, principle, or law.

would conserve

Implies careful management and preservation of resources or energy.

FAQs

How can I use "would retain" in a sentence?

You can use "would retain" to indicate that something will keep or maintain a particular quality, position, or object under certain conditions. For example, "If we invest in customer service, we would retain our loyal customers."

What are some alternatives to "would retain"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "would keep", "would maintain", or "would preserve".

Is it correct to say "will retain" instead of "would retain"?

Both "will retain" and "would retain" are grammatically correct, but they express different meanings. "Will retain" indicates a definite future action, while "would retain" expresses a conditional or hypothetical situation. For example, "The team will retain its title" versus "The team would retain its title if they win the next game."

What is the difference between "would retain" and "would maintain"?

"Would retain" implies keeping something in its current state or possession, while "would maintain" suggests actively working to preserve or uphold something. For instance, a company would retain its market share, while it would maintain its quality standards.