capacity to keep on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capacity to keep on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's ability to continue doing something, often in the context of perseverance or endurance. Example: "Her capacity to keep on despite the challenges is truly inspiring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Or, to put it another way, the capacity to keep on keeping on.

Unicef

It is understood that separate internal DWP modelling shows that, as universal credit is expanded in the months before the general election next year, the cuts will diminish the department's capacity to keep on top of rising customer demand in jobcentres and benefit offices.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As the richest country in the history of the world, Burman said, the US does have an enormous capacity to keep taking on debt but there's no guarantee that won't eventually change.

Vice

To keep on as before.

The New York Times

Semi-permanent cultivators on the other hand may feel confident of their capacity to keep the soil on their plots fertile; they have not yet proven that their management efforts actually reverse the process of soil fertility decline.

Human Ecology

The implications of that are pretty startling in terms of technology, investment flows and the capacity to keep British lights on.

The Guardian

"The problem – and it is a problem for every electricity consumer in the country – is that if all these closures go ahead, there won't be enough generating capacity to keep the lights on next winter," said the ICA in a briefing document entitled Lights Out!

The Guardian - Business

Ever skeptical of Greece's capacity to keep a lid on spending and to increase taxes over the years, the fund's economists project that the debt will approach 300percentt of G.D.P. by 2060 — an outcome depicted vividly on the chart as a line sloping sharply upward.

The New York Times

"With every cadence and nuance in Lindsay's career, her capacity to keep the public on its toes, guessing, and intrigued has been a key ingredient to her one-of-a-kind journey and fame," the bio reads.

Los Angeles Times

The reason, in a word, is China: Businessmen and bankers are bullish about Hong Kong's capacity to keep adapting to economic changes on the mainland and, in the process, continuing to earn a good living as a go-between for trade and finance.

The New York Times

The country's capacity to keep up with global innovation depends on the ability of the workforce to adapt.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "capacity to keep on" when you want to emphasize someone's or something's ability to endure or persist despite difficulties. For example, "The organization demonstrated its "capacity to keep on" innovating despite the economic downturn."

Common error

Avoid using "capacity to keep on" when referring to simple, short-term tasks. The phrase is more suited to describe long-term resilience or sustained effort, not for describing ability to do something simple like capacity to keep doing one's homework.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capacity to keep on" functions as a noun phrase followed by an infinitive verb phrase, describing the ability or power to continue a particular action or state. It is often used to highlight resilience or persistence, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "capacity to keep on" describes the ability to endure or persist, highlighting resilience. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct. Usage analysis reveals it's most common in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While not highly frequent, it is a valuable phrase for emphasizing sustained effort in the face of adversity. Related phrases like "ability to maintain" and "potential to persevere" offer nuanced alternatives. Remember to use it to describe long-term endurance, not simple tasks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to continue

Emphasizes the ability to proceed without interruption.

potential to persevere

Stresses the potential for enduring challenges.

determination to proceed

Focuses on resolve and drive to keep moving forward.

ability to maintain

Focuses on the ability to sustain a state rather than continuing an action.

talent for continuing

Highlights a natural aptitude for ongoing action.

capability to sustain

Highlights the inherent capability to keep something going.

power to retain

Highlights the strength to keep something in its current state.

skill to uphold

Implies a skill in maintaining standards or conditions.

resources to preserve

Focuses on available resources for maintaining something.

facility to prolong

Stresses the ease with which something can be extended.

FAQs

How can I use "capacity to keep on" in a sentence?

You can use "capacity to keep on" to describe someone's ability to continue doing something, especially in challenging circumstances. For example: "Despite the setbacks, her "capacity to keep on" was truly inspiring."

What are some alternatives to "capacity to keep on"?

Some alternatives include "ability to maintain", "capability to sustain", or "capacity to continue" depending on the context.

Is "capacity to keep on" formal or informal?

"Capacity to keep on" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone and register of your writing. It is often found in news articles, business reports, and academic papers.

What does "capacity to keep on" imply?

The phrase "capacity to keep on" suggests resilience, persistence, and an inherent ability to continue functioning or progressing despite challenges or obstacles.