consecutive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "consecutive" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective that means appearing in uninterrupted sequence, and is typically used to refer to a series of events or numbers. For example, "The team broke the record with three consecutive wins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A judge accepted Whelan's offer to submit his passport and imposed conditions that prevented the executive from leaving the city for more than eight consecutive days without communicating his absence.

The Guardian - Sport

(It wasn't to be: Graf was No1 for a record 186 consecutive weeks until Monica Seles took the crown in 1991).

The Guardian - Sport

Subsequently, the Tories chose six consecutive leaders who were educated at state schools.

The Guardian - Opinion

In April, Orbán's governing party, Fidesz, won its second consecutive two-thirds majority and he began his third four-year term as prime minister.

The Guardian

The 1-0 win and a fourth consecutive European clean sheet at home saw hopes very much alive when the team travelled to Catalonia.

The Guardian - Sport

Victory at Wimbledon would give Williams another "Serena Slam" – four consecutive wins in a non-calendar year – for the second time in her career, having first done it in 2002-03.

The Guardian - Sport

"I assume many managers have achieved promotion to the top flight in two different leagues in consecutive seasons before (I may be wrong, though!), but has any other boss ever done it via play-offs both times?" Send your questions and answers to [email protected] or get in touch via Twitter @TheKnowledge_GU.

The Guardian - Sport

In consecutive seasons, 1998 and 1999, Ayr also eliminated Kilmarnock from the Scottish Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

The Manchester Thunder coach, whose team are currently undefeated in the Superleague and seeking a second consecutive league title, said she was "honoured and proud" to be given the opportunity.

The Guardian - Sport

The left-armer Keith Barker completed a five-wicket haul in the first innings and then passed the baton to the international trio Chris Woakes, Rankin and Jeetan Patel, their leading wicket-taker who wrapped things up with wickets in consecutive overs, in the second.

The Guardian - Sport

Four consecutive days of successful picketing had effectively closed the plant.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "consecutive", ensure that the items or events you are describing truly follow one another without interruption. For example, "three consecutive days" implies no intervening days.

Common error

Avoid using "consecutive" when there are gaps or interruptions in the series you are describing. For instance, do not say "consecutive wins" if the team lost a game in between.

Linguistic Context

The word "consecutive" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they follow one another in uninterrupted sequence. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "consecutive" is an adjective that means following one another in uninterrupted sequence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts. The analysis of numerous examples reveals that "consecutive" commonly appears in news reports, sports articles, and business communications to emphasize unbroken sequences. While alternatives like ""successive"" and "in a row" exist, "consecutive" maintains a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal settings. Remember to use "consecutive" accurately by ensuring that the items or events you are describing truly follow one another without interruption. In summary, "consecutive" is a versatile and valuable word for conveying sequential continuity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

successive

Similar meaning, often used interchangeably, but may imply a slightly more formal or emphasized sequence.

in succession

A formal way of expressing a sequence of events.

in a row

More informal, typically used for events occurring directly one after another.

sequential

Implies a specific order or arrangement in the sequence.

straight

Similar to "in a row", implying an unbroken sequence.

back-to-back

Implies an immediate sequence, often used in sports or scheduling contexts.

in sequence

Similar to sequential, focusing on the ordered nature of the items.

one after another

A more descriptive phrase indicating a simple sequence.

seriatim

A more formal and less common term for a series presented individually.

running

Suggests a continuous and unbroken series.

FAQs

How to use "consecutive" in a sentence?

Use "consecutive" to describe events or items following one another without interruption. For example, "The team won five "straight" games" or "The meeting lasted for three "successive" hours."

What can I say instead of "consecutive"?

You can use alternatives like ""successive"", "in a row", or "sequential" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "consecutive years" or "successive years"?

Both "consecutive years" and "successive years" are correct and largely interchangeable, though "consecutive" may slightly emphasize the lack of interruption.

What's the difference between "consecutive" and "simultaneous"?

"Consecutive" means following one after another in sequence, while "simultaneous" means occurring at the same time. They are antonyms.