"Maintenance": Examples and Common Misspellings

"Maintenance" is a noun that refers to the process of preserving, upkeeping, or sustaining something in a particular state or condition.

Maintenance involves actions, tasks, or efforts aimed at ensuring the proper functioning, repair, cleanliness, or continued existence of a system, object, or structure. Maintenance can apply to various aspects of life, including:

Property Maintenance: This involves tasks like cleaning, repairing, and servicing a building or property to keep it in good condition.
Vehicle Maintenance: Regular servicing, repair, and upkeep of automobiles, machinery, and equipment to ensure their safe and efficient operation.
Software Maintenance: Updating, debugging, and improving software applications to address issues and enhance functionality.
Personal Maintenance: Refers to self-care activities, such as hygiene, exercise, and health practices, to maintain physical and mental well-being.
Infrastructure Maintenance: Ensuring the continued functionality of public utilities and facilities like roads, bridges, and public transportation.

In essence, maintenance involves any actions or procedures that help prevent deterioration, extend the lifespan, and ensure the effective performance of something. It is essential in various fields to ensure safety, reliability, and longevity.

Why is "maintenance" difficult to spell?

The pronunciation of "maintenance" can make it difficult to spell. The first "e" can easily sound like an "a" or "i." In other words, "maintenance" can sound like "maintanance" or "maintinance."

The "nance" in "maintenance" can sound like "nence" or even "nince." It is not uncommon for native English speakers to casually pronounce "maintenance" as "maintenence" or "maintenince."

Some people may even mistakenly think that the exact spelling of the root word "maintain" should be contained in the word as "maintainance" instead of the correct "maintenance."

Common misspellings of the word "maintenance" include:

All of the different combinations of the factors above may contribute to the misspellings below.

Maintanance
Maintenence
Maintanence
Maintinence
Maintinance
Maintainance
Maintainence
Maintence
Maintnance
Maintenace
Maintnence
Maintenince
Maintanince

Maintenance's origin and use across time

As shown in Google Books Ngram Viewer, "maintenance" has been extensively used throughout modern English, reaching a peak in the 1940s. Only time will tell if it will reach yet another peak or peaks or how its use will fluctuate over time.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest known use of the noun "maintenance" is from around 1350 in the writing of the poet William of Shoreham during the Middle English period (1150-1500). This was a period when the English language was heavily influenced by the Normans during the Norman Conquest of England, which began in 1066.

Other forms of the word "maintenance"

The word "maintenance" is a noun, and it has several different forms and related words. Here are some of the common forms and related words:

Maintain (base form) - This is the present tense form of the verb.
Maintains (third-person singular) - Used with he, she, it, or a singular noun.
Maintained (past tense) - Used to indicate actions that occurred in the past.
Maintaining (present participle/gerund) - Used in progressive tenses or to indicate ongoing action.
Maintenance (noun) - Refers to the act of maintaining or keeping something in good condition.
Maintainer (noun) - A person or entity responsible for maintaining something.
Maintained (adjective) - Used to describe something that has been kept in good condition or preserved.
Maintainable (adjective) - Refers to something that can be easily kept in good condition, preserved, or sustained. It describes the quality of being capable of maintenance.
Maintainability (noun) - Refers to the degree to which something is easy to maintain or keep in good condition. It's a measure of how efficiently and effectively maintenance can be performed on a system, object, or process.

Example sentences

Regular maintenance of your car, such as oil changes and tire rotations, can prolong its lifespan and prevent breakdowns.
The building manager scheduled routine maintenance to inspect and repair the HVAC system.
Proper maintenance of your garden includes pruning, weeding, and mowing to keep it in top shape.
In software development, ongoing maintenance is essential to fix bugs and improve user experience.
The aircraft underwent thorough maintenance to ensure its safety before the long flight.
Her daily routine includes personal maintenance, such as exercise and skincare.
The park's maintenance crew worked diligently to keep the grounds clean and well-kept.
Infrastructure maintenance in the city involves repaving roads and maintaining public transportation systems.
The historical mansion required extensive maintenance and restoration to preserve its original beauty.
Effective maintenance of a healthy diet and lifestyle is key to long-term well-being.

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