a continued desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a continued desire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express an ongoing or persistent wish or longing for something. Example: "Despite the challenges, she maintained a continued desire to pursue her dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Those numbers represent longevity and a continued desire to compete".

The New York Times

Beyond showing a continued desire to push into mobile territory (see other acquisitions such as the news-summarising Summly) it seems to be anyone's guess what Yahoo will do with this new acquisition.

Independent

I start there because, in both cases, there is a continued desire to provide stimulus and help to the U.S. economy.

Forbes

I relocated with a new radio-related job, and a continued desire to serve my country.

Huffington Post

As with Modcloth's previous photo shoots, the idea stemmed from a continued desire to connect with its shoppers.

Huffington Post

"They [police] have a continued desire and drive to adopt practices that suit them rather than the community," McLachlan told the Advertiser.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"It's a continuing desire to contribute, but not knowing how," he said.

The New York Times

Motivated by a continuing desire to develop mathematical techniques suited to quantum phenomena, von Neumann introduced a theory of rings of operators, now known as von Neumann algebras (1929 through the 1940s).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Maybe it was my happy experience with her, following after the earlier experience of the Austrian classroom, where, fascinatingly, meaningless sounds gradually became meaningful, that infected me with a continuing desire to understand, speak, and listen to other languages.

The New Yorker

The worldwide renewable energy sector has been facing tougher times as politicians worry about bigger budget cutbacks and seek to reduce subsidies to wind and solar, despite a continuing desire to cut carbon emissions and tackle global warming.

The Guardian

And the tradition of Saudi princes throwing open their doors to receive petitions from the public — which Zogby calls part of the "social contract" — might have been an effective governing technique in the days when King Abdul-Aziz kept the treasury in a trunk, but it now smacks of a continuing desire to treat the people as subjects rather than citizens.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a continued desire" when you want to emphasize that a wish or longing has persisted over time, despite potential obstacles or changes in circumstances.

Common error

While "a continued desire" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "aspiration", "inclination", or "yearning" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a continued desire" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, this structure expresses an ongoing or persistent wish. It describes the state of wanting something that has been present for some time and remains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a continued desire" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that signifies an ongoing wish or longing. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's employed across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While "a continued desire" might not be the most common phrase, varying your vocabulary by using alternatives like "a persistent wish" or "a lasting inclination" can enrich your writing. Remember, this phrase emphasizes persistence and dedication, indicating that the longing or wish has not diminished. By understanding its nuances and appropriate usage, you can effectively communicate the ongoing nature of someone's aspirations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a persistent wish

Changes "desire" to a synonym "wish" and "continued" to "persistent", emphasizing the unwavering nature of the feeling.

an ongoing aspiration

Replaces "desire" with "aspiration", suggesting a more ambitious and long-term goal.

a lasting inclination

Substitutes "desire" with "inclination", implying a natural tendency or preference that endures.

a sustained interest

Focuses on the aspect of interest as the driving force, rather than a general desire.

a remaining ambition

Highlights the ambitious aspect of the desire and its persistence.

a constant yearning

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of the desire, portraying it as a longing.

a prolonged intent

Shifts the focus to the intention behind the desire, highlighting its duration.

a consistent longing

Combines the ideas of consistency and longing, emphasizing the emotional and unwavering nature of the desire.

a continuous hope

Replaces "desire" with "hope", which changes the phrase to express optimism for a particular outcome.

a persevering passion

Highlights the passionate aspect of the desire and its endurance.

FAQs

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

You can use "a continued desire" to express an ongoing wish or longing for something. For example, "Despite the setbacks, she showed "a continued desire" to learn new things".

What's a more formal way to say "a continued desire"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a sustained interest" or "a prolonged intent". These alternatives add a layer of sophistication to your writing.

What can I say instead of "a continued desire" to sound less repetitive?

To avoid repetition, try alternatives such as "a persistent wish", "an ongoing aspiration", or "a lasting inclination".

Is there a difference between "a continued desire" and "a continuous desire"?

While both phrases suggest an ongoing wish, "a continued desire" implies the desire has persisted from a past point to the present, whereas "a continuous desire" emphasizes an uninterrupted, ongoing feeling. They are largely interchangeable, but the slight nuance can influence your word choice.