carry on adding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "carry on adding" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when instructing someone to continue the process of adding something, such as in a recipe or a list. Example: "Please carry on adding the ingredients until the mixture is smooth." Alternative expressions include "continue adding" and "keep adding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The temperature stops increasing, even if you carry on adding energy.

The Guardian

We've started to build something special with Ireland so it's very important that we carry on adding to the foundation we laid.

The Guardian - Sport

If the mix splits, add some breadcrumbs to bring it back together, then carry on adding the remaining eggs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Reduce the heat to medium and carry on adding the stock ladle by ladle, stirring often, until the rice is cooked but still retains a bite, and all the stock is used up – about 15-20 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Chief constables have already been warned by the Home Office to ignore the European court ruling and carry on adding the DNA profiles of the tens of thousands of people they arrest to the national database.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I have had a brilliant 12 to 13 months and if I did not have the other commitments I would happily carry on," added Brookland.

BBC

The band carried on, adding new members Chuck Leavell on piano and Lamar Williams on bass.

Wikipedia

After about 10 minutes, add the nettle purée, and carry on cooking, adding stock as you go, until the rice is soft but still al dente (with bite) - the risotto shouldn't be too "soupy" otherwise, when you add the butter and Parmesan, it will end up too sloppy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This article presents a review of the earlier studies carried out on adding CNTs into traditional cementitious materials.

Construction and Building Materials

John Sununu, the former New Hampshire senator who supports Kasich, said the Ohio governor's performance on Tuesday was "an enormous sign that he can put together a broad coalition, across the entire spectrum of Republican primary voters, and carry on, including adding resources in the south".

The Guardian

UK menswear clothing brand The Affair reckons it's spotted an opportunity to capitalize on our post-Snowden milieu, replete as it is with paranoia and mistrust about the electronic devices/surveillance tech we carry on our person, by adding a fabric Faraday cage into an Orwellian-inspired menswear line as a fashion statement.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer this construction in British English contexts, as "carry on" is a distinctive Britishism compared to the more universal "keep" or "continue".

Common error

Avoid using the infinitive immediately after "carry on" as in "carry on to add". This changes the meaning to suggest finishing one task and starting the next. To express continuity, always use the gerund: "carry on adding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "carry on adding" functions as a verb phrase where the phrasal verb "carry on" acts as an aspectual auxiliary expressing continuation. It is followed by a gerund ("adding"), which is the standard complement for this phrasal verb according to Ludwig AI. It typically appears in instructional or reportage contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki & Instructional

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "carry on adding" is a reliable and grammatically sound phrase used to denote the continuation of an additive process. Ludwig AI shows that it is particularly common in British English media, such as The Guardian, and appears frequently in instructional contexts like recipes or technical procedures. While it is less frequent than "keep adding", it provides a slightly more formal and structured tone to your writing. For best results, ensure the following verb always ends in "-ing" to maintain the correct gerund construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep adding

More informal and extremely common in spoken English

continue adding

Slightly more formal and widely used in academic writing

keep on adding

Emphasizes the persistence of the action more than the simple keep

continue to add

Uses the infinitive instead of the gerund, often preferred in US English

go on adding

A close synonym that implies a progression of steps

proceed with adding

Much more formal, typically used in professional or technical procedures

persist in adding

Implies adding despite difficulty or contrary advice

add further

Focuses on the quantity rather than the duration of the action

maintain the addition of

Very formal and clinical, used in scientific documentation

keep the additions coming

Informal and idiomatic, suggesting a high frequency

FAQs

How to use "carry on adding" in a sentence?

You use it to describe an action that should not stop. For example, "You should "carry on adding" flour to the mixture until it becomes a dough".

What can I say instead of "carry on adding"?

You can use alternatives like "keep adding", "continue adding", or "go on adding" depending on the level of formality required.

Is "carry on adding" or "continue adding" better?

Both are correct. "continue adding" is more neutral and common in American English, while "carry on adding" is a natural and frequent choice in British English news and lifestyle writing.

What is the difference between "carry on adding" and "keep on adding"?

The difference is subtle; "keep on adding" can sometimes imply a sense of repetition or even annoyance, whereas "carry on adding" is more purely descriptive of a continuous process.