continue for longer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continue for longer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the duration of an action or event that you want to extend beyond its current timeframe. Example: "If the meeting is productive, we may decide to continue for longer than the scheduled hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

They were briefly addressed by the judge who has asked them to continue for longer.

The Guardian

If the national economy stops growing altogether, Ms. DiNatale said, there will be "even a bigger chance that layoffs continue for longer and are even larger".

The New York Times

"We are grateful that Paul has freed up more time in order to be able to continue for longer than he had originally planned".

The New York Times

By buying Treasury and government-agency debt, central banks have financed America's current-account deficit, and pushed down bond yields and mortgage rates, allowing America's consumer spending and borrowing binge to continue for longer.

The Economist

Moreover, as the autumn statement made clear, spending austerity - and headcount reductions - will have to continue for longer than planned, for at least seven years, well into the next parliament.

The Guardian

QE3 will almost certainly continue for longer than it would have had the pro-tapering bunch simply kept their mouths shut in early 2013.We should also note that Mr Klein's position only sounds even remotely reasonable because America just had a very severe financial crisis a departure from the trend of the preceding 70 years.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

In the present study however, follow-up and continuous λCgN treatment were continued for longer term (20 weeks).

British Journal of Cancer

"The abuse, as a result, continued for longer than could have been the case".

Independent

I can only ask for your patience, when 'temporary' expedients seem to continuing for longer than is comfortable.

The Guardian

Talks between the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, continued for longer than expected.

The Guardian

His first memo to staff comes after Dinsmore was parachuted into the editor's chair in place of Mohan, who had held the post for four years and was widely expected to have continued for longer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify the original duration and the extended duration when using "continue for longer". For example: "The meeting was scheduled for one hour, but we may need to continue for another 30 minutes."

Common error

Avoid using "continue for longer" without specifying the timeframe or context. Without context, it may be unclear how much longer the activity or event is expected to continue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue for longer" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate the extension of an activity, process, or state beyond its initial or expected duration. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

29%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue for longer" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote the extension of an activity, process, or state beyond its initially planned duration. Ludwig AI validates this usage, highlighting its adaptability across various contexts. It appears commonly in scientific, news, and wiki sources. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify the original timeframe and the intended extension. While alternatives like "extend the duration" and "prolong the time" exist, the phrase remains a versatile option for expressing temporal extensions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend for a greater duration

Replaces "continue" with "extend" and "longer" with "a greater duration", emphasizing the time aspect.

prolong for a longer period

Uses "prolong" instead of "continue", suggesting a deliberate act of lengthening the duration.

sustain for an extended time

Replaces "continue" with "sustain", indicating the maintenance of something over a longer duration.

keep going for a longer time

Uses a more informal phrasing with "keep going" replacing "continue".

last for a greater length of time

Focuses on the "lasting" aspect of time and uses more formal language.

carry on for an extended period

Employs the phrasal verb "carry on" as a substitute for "continue", conveying the idea of persistence.

persist for a longer duration

Uses "persist" to highlight the ongoing nature of the action or state.

remain for a longer time

Emphasizes the state of remaining in existence or a particular condition for an extended duration.

stretch out for a longer period

Conveys the idea of making something last or extend further in time.

draw out for a longer time

Suggests lengthening something, often artificially or unnecessarily.

FAQs

How can I use "continue for longer" in a sentence?

You can use "continue for longer" to indicate an extension of time. For example, "Due to the project's complexity, we will "extend the deadline" and continue for longer than initially planned."

What phrases are similar to "continue for longer"?

Similar phrases include "extend the duration", "prolong the time", or "sustain for an extended time", all suggesting an increase in the duration of something.

Is it grammatically correct to say "continue for longer"?

Yes, "continue for longer" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It indicates an intention to extend an activity or process beyond its original timeframe.

What's the difference between "continue for longer" and "continue indefinitely"?

"Continue for longer" implies a limited extension of time, while "continue indefinitely" suggests there is no set end time. The former is a temporary adjustment, the latter, a potentially permanent state.