Are these verbs interchangeable: adhere to, hold to, stand by ? Do my sentences make sense?
My father adheres to the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

My father holds to the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

My father stands by the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

Question

Are these verbs interchangeable: adhere to, hold to, stand by  ? Do my sentences make sense?
My father adheres to the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

My father holds to the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

My father stands by the idea that people need to keep the old traditions instead of the new ones.

Answer

Adhere to= formal/written
hold to=spoken/casual
stands by=implies that someone else is attacking that idea, and your father continues to believe that idea despite the other person's criticism.

Also, we don't "keep" new traditions, so you should add another verb: "...instead of inventing new ones."

Answer

Thank you, Kevin.

Answer

"adheres to" is the best choice in this situation. It means that it is a long held ideal/belief. Definitely the type of thing someone who likes to keep old traditions would do.

"holds to" is more to do with justice as far as I can think. "Holds to account", "hold someone responsible" type of thing. It certainly doesn't work well in this context.

"stands by" is more when something is challenged and you refuse to yield to the challenge. "I stand by my statement that the earth is flat!"

Answers · 4

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