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AH020387 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Maintain VS sustain

What is the difference between 'maintain' and 'sustain'?
  

Top answer

'sustain' implies that it takes more energy, and usually a constant effort, while 'maintain' is something you can do every once in a while. Something that you need to 'maintain' slowly "slides back" with no attention, and then you can give it a bit of attention to bring it back to where it was before, restarting the process. Something that you need to 'sustain' will probably collapse without active support.

— WBTtheFROG

  • 'sustain' implies that it takes more energy, and usually a constant effort, while 'maintain' is something you can do every once in a while.
  • Something that you need to 'maintain' slowly "slides back" with no attention, and then you can give it a bit of attention to bring it back to where it was before, restarting the process.
  • Something that you need to 'sustain' will probably collapse without active support.
  • The term 'sustainability' in an ecological context refers to the earth's ability to support us, not the other way around.
  • We are constantly drawing on the Earth's resources for support, and if it stopped providing those (e.
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5 Answers
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'sustain' implies that it takes more energy, and usually a constant effort, while 'maintain' is something you can do every once in a while.
Something that you need to 'maintain' slowly "slides back" with no attention, and then you can give it a bit of attention to bring it back to where it was before, restarting the process. Something that you need to 'sustain' will probably collapse withou
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There is general cultural consensus on what is "sustained" and what is "maintained."
I maintain a house by periodically cleaning it & repairing it.
I maintain good grades and good muscle strength. ('Sustain' doesn't fit there.)
I sustain a high note when I'm singing (or playing an instrument, esp. a wind instrument) because it would 'collapse' if I stopped providing that breath suppor
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To maintain something is to fix what is already there, but sustaining is continually adding more to it.
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Usage: Maintaining customer relations and sustaining them in the long run is one of the key challenge areas for e-commerce sector.
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Anonymous Maintaining customer relations and sustaining them in the long run is one of the key challenge areas for e-commerce sector.
This is terribly redundant: the two phrases are essentially synonymous. Choose one only:

Maintaining customer relations is one of the key challenges for the e-commerce sector.
Sustaining customer relations
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