carry on playing

USAGE SUMMARY

"carry on playing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to continuing an activity, such as a game, performance, or task. For example: "Let's carry on playing the game until everyone has had a chance to participate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If we carry on playing the way we are, then nobody can stop us".

The New York Times

If we can carry on playing like that, we should be alright".

BBC

"If I carry on playing like that then someone will have to play very well to beat me.

BBC

Birmingham City's veteran full-back Stephen Carr could yet carry on playing - more than three years after coming out of retirement.

BBC

We carry on playing this game of cat and mouse for the next 20 minutes: he's toying with me.

Vice

Flintoff wants to carry on playing one-day and Twenty20 matches for England.

The New York Times - Sports

"There is one certainty though, and that is I want to carry on playing — with Juventus or abroad.

The New York Times - Sports

He wanted to carry on playing.

The Guardian - Sport

They've just gone away… and we carry on playing.

The Guardian - Music

So, David Beckham will carry on playing for England.

The Guardian - Sport

I suppose it depends on how long he wants to carry on playing for.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "carry on playing" to emphasize the continuation of an activity, particularly when there might be reasons to stop or pause. It often implies a deliberate choice to persist.

Common error

Avoid using "carry on playing" when simply stating a fact about playing. It's best suited for situations where continuation is emphasized, not just the existence of the activity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "carry on playing" is that of a phrasal verb expressing continuation. It describes the act of persisting in an activity, often in the face of potential interruptions or challenges. Ludwig AI provides examples that show its versatility in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "carry on playing" is a common phrasal verb used to describe the continuation of an activity, frequently a game or sport, often implying a conscious decision to persist. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, its effectiveness lies in emphasizing the ongoing nature of an action, rather than simply stating its existence. Remember to use it when you want to highlight the idea of continuing despite potential interruptions or challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue playing

Focuses on the uninterrupted continuation of the playing action.

keep playing

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the playing activity, suggesting perseverance.

go on playing

Similar to "carry on playing", but with a slightly more informal tone.

persist in playing

Highlights the determination to continue playing despite potential obstacles.

proceed with playing

Suggests moving forward with the action of playing, often after an interruption.

keep at playing

Emphasizes continued effort and dedication towards playing.

maintain playing

Focuses on upholding or sustaining the state of playing.

sustain playing

Implies keeping the activity of playing alive or ongoing.

hold playing

Suggests retaining or maintaining one's engagement in the act of playing.

endeavor to play

Highlights the effort and ambition to continue participating in playing activities.

FAQs

How can I use "carry on playing" in a sentence?

You can use "carry on playing" to indicate the continuation of an activity, such as "Despite the rain, the team decided to "carry on playing"".

What's a more formal alternative to "carry on playing"?

While "carry on playing" is suitable for most contexts, a more formal alternative might be "continue playing" or "persist in playing".

Is there a difference between "carry on playing" and "keep playing"?

While similar, "carry on playing" often implies overcoming an obstacle or making a deliberate choice to continue, whereas "keep playing" simply denotes continuous action.

When is it inappropriate to use "carry on playing"?

It might be inappropriate in highly formal or academic contexts where a more precise or technical term would be preferred, or when simply stating a general fact about an activity without emphasis on its continuation.