Keep Abreast With vs. Keep Abreast Of – Which is Correct?
“Keep abreast of” is the standard, idiomatic expression meaning “stay informed about” or “remain up to date with.” “Keep abreast with” is generally considered nonstandard in modern English, although “abreast with” may appear occasionally. For professional, academic, and everyday writing, choose “keep abreast of” followed by an appropriate noun phrase.
Keep abreast with or keep abreast of – Which is Correct?
Keep abreast of is the correct and widely accepted expression. It means to remain informed about developments, changes, news, or information. For example, you might keep abreast of industry trends, changes in the law, or current events.
Keep abreast with is not the standard modern collocation. The confusion probably occurs because with can express association or connection in many other phrases, such as “keep up with.” However, the established expression is “keep abreast of.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple swap test: replace “keep abreast” with stay informed. You say “stay informed about something,” and the closest standard preposition in the original expression is of: “keep abreast of something.” Remember: keep abreast of developments, but keep up with developments.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| keep abreast with | Nonstandard phrase | An uncommon and generally incorrect alternative to “keep abreast of” | Avoid “keep abreast with the news” in edited writing. |
| keep abreast of | Fixed verb phrase | To stay informed about or up to date with something | Managers must keep abreast of regulatory changes. |
How to Use Keep Abreast Of
Keep abreast of is a fixed verb phrase followed by a noun or noun phrase. It means to make an effort to remain informed about a subject or to stay aware of current developments. The phrase is grammatically correct in both American and British English.
Similar questions about irregular verb forms arise in discussions such as Abide vs. Abided vs. Abode.
The expression has a moderately formal tone. It is common in business, academic, legal, medical, and professional contexts, although it can also be used in everyday conversation. In casual speech, alternatives such as “keep up with,” “stay updated on,” or “stay informed about” may sound more natural.
Example 1: Employees should keep abreast of changes to workplace safety regulations.
Example 2: I read several technology newsletters to keep abreast of new developments in artificial intelligence.
Example 3: The lawyer regularly attends conferences to keep abreast of changes in tax law.
Etymology of the Phrase Keep Abreast Of
Abreast originally referred to being side by side, especially in a line or formation. It combines the prefix a-, meaning “in” or “on,” with breast. The phrase later developed a figurative meaning: to remain alongside current events or developments rather than falling behind them. In “keep abreast of,” of introduces the information or subject being followed.
Related Concepts
Understanding fixed preposition patterns and related phrasal expressions makes it easier to choose the correct form of this idiom.
- Fixed expressions: A fixed expression is a group of words commonly used together in a particular form. “Keep abreast of” is established usage, so its preposition should not usually be replaced with “with.”
- Preposition collocations: English verbs and adjectives often form conventional combinations with particular prepositions. For example, we say “interested in,” “aware of,” and “responsible for.”
- Keep up with: “Keep up with” is a valid related expression meaning to remain informed or maintain the same pace. Its preposition is with, which may cause confusion with “keep abreast of.”
- Abreast: In its literal sense, abreast means beside or alongside. In the idiom “keep abreast of,” it has the figurative meaning of staying current.
Examples from Media and Literature
The expression “keep abreast of” appears naturally in formal journalism, professional communication, and informational writing:
- Business journalism: A financial report may advise investors to keep abreast of interest-rate decisions and market developments.
- Technology reporting: Technology publications often encourage readers to keep abreast of advances in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
- Legal writing: Professional legal guidance commonly recommends that practitioners keep abreast of new statutes, regulations, and court decisions.
- Healthcare communication: Medical organizations may tell practitioners to keep abreast of updated clinical research and treatment guidelines.
- Everyday informational writing: A travel article might advise visitors to keep abreast of weather warnings or transportation changes before a trip.
Keep Abreast Of Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| keep up with | To remain informed about something or maintain the same pace |
| stay informed about | To continue learning about current information or developments |
| stay up to date with | To maintain current knowledge of a subject |
| remain current on | To continue knowing about the latest developments |
| follow | To monitor developments or news about a subject |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “keep abreast with”?
“Keep abreast with” is generally considered nonstandard in modern English. Use “keep abreast of” instead: “She keeps abreast of political developments.”
Question 2: What does “keep abreast of” mean?
“Keep abreast of” means to stay informed about something or remain up to date with current developments. It is often used with subjects such as news, technology, regulations, research, and events.
Question 3: Is “keep abreast of” formal?
Yes. “Keep abreast of” has a moderately formal tone and is especially common in professional, academic, business, and legal writing. In casual conversation, “keep up with” or “stay updated on” may sound more natural.
Conclusion
The standard expression is keep abreast of, not “keep abreast with.” Use it when you mean “stay informed about” or “remain up to date with” a subject. Although “keep abreast with” may be understood, it can look unidiomatic in edited English. Pro tip: choosing the established phrase “keep abreast of” helps protect your clarity and professional reputation.
