Keeping quality at an expected level

The idea

maintain standards means keeping the expected level over time. The standards can concern safety, teaching or quality.

Examples

• The bakery maintains high standards.
• The hospital maintained safety standards.
• Our team maintains professional standards.
• The hotel is maintaining its standards.
• Schools must maintain teaching standards.
• The workshop maintained strict quality standards.

Watch out

Avoid maintain the standards high; say maintain high standards or keep standards high.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the missing word. The lab must ___ high standards. (maintain / maintenance)

   Show answer or example answer

   maintain

   maintain follows the modal must.

2. Choose the missing word. The restaurant ___ its standards last year. (maintained / maintains)

   Show answer or example answer

   maintained

   maintained places the action last year.

3. Choose the missing word. The factory is ___ safety standards. (maintaining / maintained)

   Show answer or example answer

   maintaining

   maintaining follows is to describe an ongoing action.

Use it today

Describe how a workplace maintains its standards.