keep up with

M Winther

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Jan 28, 2013, 3:22:02 AM1/28/13

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I have noticed that English speaking people sometimes use "keep up with"
in the sense of "keep up". For instance, "keeping up with traditions"
acquires the same meaning as "keeping up traditions" (that is, keeping
traditions alive). But "keeping up with traditions" really means
"keeping up to date with traditions", does it not? In that case it's a
different thing.

Has "keeping up with" an unprecise meaning, or is it wrongly used?

Mats Winther

bert

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Jan 28, 2013, 5:02:27 AM1/28/13

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On Monday, 28 January 2013 08:22:02 UTC, M Winther wrote:
> I have noticed that English speaking people sometimes use "keep up with"
> in the sense of "keep up". For instance, "keeping up with traditions"

> acquires the same meaning as "keeping up traditions".

It depends whether anybody else is watching you do it,
or at any rate whether you think they might be. If
nobody else knows or cares, then you're "keeping up
with traditions". If somebody else might be influenced
by you doing it, you're "keeping up traditions".
--

Steve Hayes

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Jan 28, 2013, 5:23:23 AM1/28/13

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It's wrongly used in that instance, and should be "keeping up" traditions,
which meands the same as "upholding traditions".

Adding "with" changes the meaning to "travelling at the same speed as", and so
not falling behind.

--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Cheryl

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Jan 28, 2013, 5:31:39 AM1/28/13

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I'd use 'keeping up traditions' in both cases. I don't think I'd ever
use 'keeping up with traditions'.

You keep up with the news, or someone who's walking or running fast.

--
Cheryl

Guy Barry

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Jan 28, 2013, 5:37:51 AM1/28/13

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"Cheryl" wrote in message news:amn2ca...@mid.individual.net...

>I'd use 'keeping up traditions' in both cases. I don't think I'd ever use
>'keeping up with traditions'.

Nor would I. "Keeping up with traditions" would suggest that the traditions
kept changing, which they tend not to by definition.

--
Guy Barry

Don Phillipson

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Jan 28, 2013, 7:30:52 AM1/28/13

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"M Winther" <ml...@swipnet.se> wrote in message
news:5106352e$0$4135$c83e...@weathergirl-read.tele2.net...

Wrong usage seems likelier. "Keeping up with X" (indirect object) has an
obvious function use where X is recognized to be a changing field of
knowledge
(e.g. various scientific disciplines, trends in clothing fashion, how
ballet companies cope with their theatrical markets, etc.) But we
also talk about housekeeping or sympathize with someone's efforts
to keep up Y (direct object) where Y is a crumbling stately home,
Morris dancing, a faltering political doctrine like Social Credit etc.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Enraged Apostate, World Citizen

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Jan 29, 2013, 12:16:09 AM1/29/13

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"Guy Barry" <guy....@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote on Mon 28 Jan 2013
12:37:51p

But people do "keep with tradition."

Often used at ceremonies or other auspicious occasions:

"Keeping with tradition[s?], I will present the red ribbon winner before the
blue ribbon winner."

Steve Hayes

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Jan 29, 2013, 1:21:35 AM1/29/13

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I think that is "in keeping with" tradition(s). The "in" is important.

Cheryl

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Jan 29, 2013, 6:33:34 AM1/29/13

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I would say "In keeping with tradition..."

--
Cheryl

M Winther

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Jan 29, 2013, 7:29:07 AM1/29/13

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"Steve Hayes" <haye...@telkomsa.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:thqeg8tashsk5oo93...@4ax.com...

> On Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:16:09 +0000 (UTC), "Enraged Apostate, World
> Citizen"
> <Finding...@Every.Opportunity.invalid> wrote:
>
>>"Guy Barry" <guy....@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote on Mon 28 Jan 2013
>>12:37:51p
>>
>>> "Cheryl" wrote in message news:amn2ca...@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>>>I'd use 'keeping up traditions' in both cases. I don't think I'd
>>>>ever
>>>>use 'keeping up with traditions'.
>>>
>>> Nor would I. "Keeping up with traditions" would suggest that the
>>> traditions kept changing, which they tend not to by definition.
>>
>>But people do "keep with tradition."
>>
>>Often used at ceremonies or other auspicious occasions:
>>
>>"Keeping with tradition[s?], I will present the red ribbon winner
>>before the
>>blue ribbon winner."
>
> I think that is "in keeping with" tradition(s). The "in" is important.
>
>
>

That's the explanation, then. Doing things "in keeping with traditions"
is mixed up with "keeping up traditions", and it comes out as "keeping
up with traditions".

Mats