keep to

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to stick closely to a specific path, plan, schedule, or limit without deviating. In professional settings, it is used to emphasize the importance of following agendas, deadlines, or strict budgets. It carries a tone of discipline and adherence to agreed-upon structures.

Examples

• We must keep to the agreed agenda if we want to finish this meeting on time.

  We must keep to the agreed agenda if we want to finish this meeting on time.

• Please ensure that your team keeps to the project timeline.

  Please ensure that your team keeps to the project timeline.

• The department did an excellent job of keeping to the budget this quarter.

  The department did an excellent job of keeping to the budget this quarter.

• Let's keep to the facts and avoid making assumptions during the presentation.

  Let's keep to the facts and avoid making assumptions during the presentation.

• It is crucial that all employees keep to the safety guidelines.

  It is crucial that all employees keep to the safety guidelines.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to keep on the schedule.

  ✓ We need to keep to the schedule.

  Learners often confuse 'keep to' with 'keep on'. Use 'keep to' to mean adhering to a plan or schedule, while 'keep on' means to continue doing something.

• ✗ Please keep to your promises.

  ✓ Please keep your promises.

  You 'keep a promise' (no preposition), but you 'keep to an agreement', 'keep to a plan', or 'keep to a path'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To finish by noon, we really need to ___ the schedule.

  💡 Adhere closely to

  Show answer

  keep to

• During the Q&A session, please ___ the topic of today's launch.

  💡 Do not deviate from

  Show answer

  keep to