Keep vs. Retain

Attribute	Keep	Retain
Definition	To have possession or ownership of something	To continue to have something or someone
Meaning	To hold on to something	To keep in possession or use
Usage	Commonly used in everyday language	More formal or technical term
Emphasis	Focuses on the act of holding onto something	Focuses on the act of continuing to have something

Definition

Keep and retain are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they actually have slightly different meanings. Keep generally refers to holding onto something or maintaining possession of it. On the other hand, retain typically means to keep something in one's possession for future use or reference. Both words involve the idea of holding onto something, but retain implies a more intentional or strategic decision to do so.

Usage

Keep is a more common and versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, you might keep a promise, keep a secret, or keep a pet. Retain, on the other hand, is often used in more formal or professional settings. You might retain a lawyer, retain information, or retain customers. While keep is used in everyday language, retain is more commonly used in business or legal contexts.

Implications

When you keep something, it suggests a more casual or informal approach to holding onto it. You might keep a souvenir from a trip or keep a book that you enjoyed reading. Retain, on the other hand, implies a more deliberate or purposeful decision to hold onto something. For example, a company might retain a talented employee by offering them a promotion or raise. Retain carries a sense of intentionality and strategy that keep does not always convey.

Relationships

Keep and retain can also be used in the context of relationships. When you keep a friend, it implies that you maintain a connection with them over time. Retain, however, suggests a more active effort to preserve the relationship. For example, a business might retain a loyal customer by offering them special discounts or rewards. In this sense, retain implies a more proactive approach to maintaining relationships.

Legal and Business Context

In legal and business contexts, retain is often used to refer to the act of hiring or engaging someone's services. For example, a law firm might retain a lawyer to represent a client in a legal matter. Similarly, a company might retain a consultant to provide expert advice on a specific project. Keep, on the other hand, is more commonly used in everyday language to refer to holding onto something or maintaining possession of it.

Conclusion

While keep and retain are often used interchangeably, they have slightly different meanings and implications. Keep is a more casual and versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts, while retain is often used in more formal or professional settings. Retain implies a more intentional or strategic decision to hold onto something, while keep suggests a more casual or informal approach. Both words involve the idea of holding onto something, but retain carries a sense of purpose and strategy that keep does not always convey.