Maintainance vs. Maintenance: Decoding the Right Spelling
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 17, 2024
"Maintainance" is incorrect spelling, while "Maintenance," meaning the act of preserving or keeping something in good condition, is correct.
Which is correct: Maintainance or Maintenance
How to spell Maintenance?
Maintainance is Incorrect
Maintenance is Correct
How to remember correct spelling of Maintenance?
Remember, "maintenance" contains the word "maintain" plus "ence"; there's no extra 'a' after 'n'.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Create a mnemonic: "Mice Are In Need, Tenants Ensure Neatness, Creating Excellence" to recall the correct spelling.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Visualize "maintenance" as "main-tenance," focusing on the 'tenance' part instead of 'tance'.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Practice writing "maintenance" repeatedly, emphasizing the correct 'tenance' ending each time.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Link "maintenance" with "tenancy," as both share the 'tenan' sound and are about upkeep.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Maintenance Definitions
Financial support provided regularly, especially in cases of divorce or child care.
After the divorce, he was required to pay child maintenance.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 05, 2024
The act of keeping something in good condition or repair.
Regular maintenance of your car can prevent major repairs.
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Jan 05, 2024
The process of sustaining or preserving something in its original state.
The museum's maintenance of ancient artifacts is critical for their preservation.
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Jan 05, 2024
The act of maintaining or the state of being maintained
Nutrients essential to the maintenance of good health.
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Jan 05, 2024
Provision of support or livelihood
Took over the maintenance of her family.
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Jan 05, 2024
Means of support or livelihood
Was ordered to pay maintenance for both children.
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Jan 05, 2024
(Law) The wrongful aiding of another in the pursuit or defense of a lawsuit, especially in jurisdictions where nonparties are legally prohibited to provide financial assistance.
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Jan 05, 2024
Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.
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Jan 05, 2024
(legal) A tort and (in some jurisdictions) an offence committed when a third party who does not have a bona fide interest in a lawsuit provides help or acquires an interest to a litigant's lawsuit.
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Jan 05, 2024
Alimony, a periodical payment or a lump sum made or ordered to be made to a spouse after a divorce.
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Jan 05, 2024
(legal) Child support.
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Jan 05, 2024
Money required or spent to provide for the needs of a person or a family.
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Jan 05, 2024
(biology) The natural process which keeps an organism alive.
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Jan 05, 2024
The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God.
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Jan 05, 2024
That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance.
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Jan 05, 2024
An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See Champerty.
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Jan 05, 2024
Those actions required for the care of machinery, a building, etc., to keep it clean and in proper functioning condition, and to prevent or forestall damage due to normal use.
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Jan 05, 2024
Payments, such as child support or alimony, to a dependent child not living with one or to a divorced wife.
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Jan 05, 2024
Activity involved in maintaining something in good working order;
He wrote the manual on car care
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Jan 05, 2024
Means of maintenance of a family or group
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Jan 05, 2024
Court-ordered support paid by one spouse to another after they are separated
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Jan 05, 2024
The act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence;
They were in want of sustenance
Fishing was their main sustainment
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Jan 05, 2024
Activities involved in managing and operating a facility or equipment.
The building's maintenance team is responsible for ensuring all systems function properly.
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Jan 05, 2024
Legal action to provide support, especially to a spouse or child.
The court ordered him to pay maintenance to support his children.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 05, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is "maintainance" ever recognized in English dictionaries?
No, "maintainance" is generally not recognized in standard English dictionaries as it is a common misspelling of "maintenance."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
What part of speech is "maintenance"?
"Maintenance" is primarily a noun in English.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
How can understanding the etymology of "maintenance" help remember its spelling?
Knowing that "maintenance" comes from "maintenir," which doesn't have an extra 'a', can help in remembering the correct spelling.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
What is the origin of the word "maintenance"?
The word "maintenance" comes from the Old French "maintenir," meaning to keep or uphold, which in turn is derived from the Latin word "manutenere."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Can "maintenance" be used in different contexts?
Yes, "maintenance" can refer to physical upkeep, financial support, or legal actions, among other contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Is "maintainance" recognized in any regional variations of English?
No, "maintainance" is generally not recognized as correct in any regional variations of English.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
What is the plural form of "maintenance"?
"Maintenance" remains the same in its plural form and is used with plural verbs when referring to multiple acts or types of maintenance.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
How does the pronunciation of "maintenance" differ from its spelling?
The pronunciation of "maintenance" often omits the sound of the second 'a', which leads to the misspelling "maintainance."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
How has the usage of "maintenance" evolved over time?
Originally related to the idea of holding or sustaining, "maintenance" has evolved to include various forms of support and upkeep.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Why is "maintainance" considered incorrect?
"Maintainance" is incorrect because it adds an unnecessary 'a' after the 'n', deviating from the traditional spelling rooted in its French and Latin origins.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
In legal terms, what does "maintenance" refer to?
Legally, "maintenance" often refers to financial support given to a spouse or child after separation or divorce.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Does "maintenance" have synonyms that are easier to spell?
Yes, simpler synonyms include "upkeep," "care," or "support," which may be easier to spell.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
What is the most common mistake people make when spelling "maintenance"?
The most common mistake is adding an extra 'a' after the 'n', resulting in the misspelling "maintainance."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Are there any mnemonic devices to remember the spelling of "maintenance"?
One mnemonic is: "Mice Are In Need, Tenants Ensure Neatness, Creating Excellence."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
Does the meaning of "maintenance" change in different industries?
Yes, in different industries, "maintenance" can refer to specific types of care or management, like machinery maintenance in manufacturing or software maintenance in IT.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 17, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.