Keep column name when filtering matrix columns

I have a matrix, like the one generated with this code: ``` > m = matrix(data=c(1:50), nrow= 10, ncol = 5); > colnames(m) = letters[1:5]; ``` If I filter the columns, and the result have more than one column, the new matrix keeps the names. For example: ``` > m[, colnames(m) != "a"]; b c d e [1,] 11 21 31 41 [2,] 12 22 32 42 [3,] 13 23 33 43 [4,] 14 24 34 44 [5,] 15 25 35 45 [6,] 16 26 36 46 [7,] 17 27 37 47 [8,] 18 28 38 48 [9,] 19 29 39 49 [10,] 20 30 40 50 ``` Notice that here, the class is still matrix: ``` > class(m[, colnames(m) != "a"]); [1] "matrix" ``` But, when the filter lets only one column, the result is a vector, (integer vector in this case) and the column name, is lost. ``` > m[, colnames(m) == "a"] [1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > class(m[, colnames(m) == "a"]); [1] "integer" ``` The name of the column is very important. I would like to keep both, matrix structure (a one column matrix) and the column's name. But, the column's name is more important. I already know how to solve this by the long way (by keeping track of every case). I'm wondering if there is an elegant, enlightening solution.