I continued to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I continued to" is correct and can be used in written English.
The phrase is used to indicate that something started in the past and continued up to the present. For example, "I continued to study hard for the exam, and eventually passed with flying colors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I continued to write.

The New Yorker

I continued to manage.

The New York Times

I continued to walk.

The New Yorker

I continued to stare.

The Guardian - Books

I continued to reel.

The New York Times - Sports

I continued to spray the balls.

The New York Times - Sports

I continued to fill out college applications.

The New York Times

I continued to look for things.

The Guardian - Film

Encouraged, I continued to push my luck.

The New York Times - Style

After my release I continued to demonstrate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I continue to press.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I continued to" to clearly indicate that an action or state persisted over a period of time. It's a straightforward way to show continuity.

Common error

Avoid using "I continued to" excessively in simple narratives where the continuation is already implied. Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I continued to" functions as a verb phrase indicating the ongoing nature of an action. It emphasizes that the subject persisted in a particular activity or state. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing sustained efforts and behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I continued to" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express the continuation of an action. As affirmed by Ludwig, it's frequently found in News & Media, serving to convey persistence or sustained effort. While versatile, be mindful of overuse and consider alternative phrases like "I went on to" or "I carried on" to maintain writing clarity and reader engagement. Avoid the Oxford Comma and unnecessary repetition to maintain a higher quality of language. The reliability score calculated here proves that the source quality is high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I would continue to

Adding "would" gives a sense of repetition in the past, making it slightly different from the original form.

I went on to

Emphasizes the transition to a subsequent action or state, shifting focus slightly from continuous action to sequential progression.

I persisted in

Stresses determination and resolve, suggesting continued action despite resistance or difficulty.

I proceeded to

Suggests a more formal and deliberate continuation, implying a structured or planned sequence of actions.

I carried on

Implies resilience in the face of difficulty, suggesting the action persisted despite challenges or obstacles.

I kept on

An informal alternative that underscores persistence, suitable for casual contexts where you want to emphasize continued effort.

I moved on to

Highlights the transition from one action or state to another, often implying a change in focus or subject.

I maintained

Focuses on preserving a state or condition, rather than simply continuing an action, shifting the emphasis to consistency.

I resumed

Indicates the action was temporarily interrupted before starting again, emphasizing the return to a previous state.

I perpetuated

The action implies that the originator desires the behavior to continue.

FAQs

How can I use "I continued to" in a sentence?

Use "I continued to" to show that an action or state persisted. For example, "Despite the challenges, "I continued to" work on the project."

What are some alternatives to "I continued to"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I went on to", "I persisted in", or "I carried on" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it always necessary to use "I continued to" to show an action persisted?

No, sometimes the continuation is implied by the surrounding context. Overusing "I continued to" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider varying your sentence structure.

What is the difference between "I continued to" and "I began to"?

"I continued to" indicates that an action was already in progress and persisted. "I began to" signals the start of a new action. For instance, ""I continued to" read" implies you were already reading, while "I began to read" means you started reading.