continue to close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continue to close" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ongoing process of closing something, such as a deal, a meeting, or a project. Example: "We need to continue to close the gaps in our communication to ensure everyone is on the same page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, conventional alleys continue to close.

The New York Times

Plants continue to close and generation rates continue to drop.

The New York Times

France has lost a fourth of its industrial workers since 1991 as factories continue to close.

The New York Times

If the government does nothing plants like SSI will continue to close".

The Guardian - Business

As the internet continues to change shopping habits, stores across the United States continue to close.

The New York Times

It insists it does not censor the press, but newspapers continue to close and independent journalists are moving abroad.

The Economist

"The government must continue to close and decommission existing plants and cancel all new reactors," he said.

The New York Times

The reverberations of the workers' victory are likely to be felt for months as plants continue to close.

The New York Times

It comes at a time when pubs continue to close at a rate of more than 20 a month.

The Guardian - Business

The Terriers continue to close on the record of becoming English football's greatest invincibles (43 unbeaten now).

The Guardian - Sport

Manchester City are confident they will see off a late bid from Juventus and sign Lazio's Aleksandar Kolarov this weekend as they continue to close on James Milner.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continue to close" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action that leads to a final state, like "We will continue to close the gap between our goals and achievements".

Common error

Avoid using "continue to close" when the action is already fully completed; instead, use past tense verbs such as "closed" or "finalized".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to close" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an ongoing process or action aimed at achieving closure or completion. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in contexts such as closing gaps, stores, borders, and deals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

23%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Science

9%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to close" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that indicates an ongoing effort toward completion or finalization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. The phrase is versatile, appearing in news reports, business communications, and academic papers. It is most common in news and media but also finds use in formal and business contexts. To ensure clarity, avoid using "continue to close" when the action is already complete. Alternatives such as ""keep shutting"" or ""persist in closing"" can add subtle nuances to your writing, but ensure the chosen phrase aligns with the intended meaning and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep shutting

Replaces "continue" with "keep", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the closing action.

persist in closing

Emphasizes the tenacity or determination in the act of closing.

keep closing down

Adds "down" to emphasize the act of ceasing operations or activity.

carry on closing

Uses "carry on" as a synonym for "continue", implying persistence.

proceed to close

Implies a formal or planned sequence leading to closure.

progressively close

Highlights the gradual or incremental nature of the closing process.

increasingly shut

Focuses on the growing intensity of the closing action.

steadily shut

Implies a consistent and unwavering action in closing.

continue the closure of

Rephrases to emphasize the state of closure itself.

advance the closing of

Suggests an active role in moving the closing process forward.

FAQs

How can I use "continue to close" in a sentence?

You can use "continue to close" to describe an ongoing action aimed at completion. For example: "The team will continue to close the deal by the end of the week."

What are some alternatives to "continue to close"?

Alternatives include "keep shutting", "persist in closing", or "carry on closing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "continues to close" instead of "continue to close"?

Yes, "continues to close" is grammatically correct when referring to a singular subject. "Continue to close" is used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form.

What's the difference between "continue to close" and "are to close"?

"Continue to close" indicates an ongoing action, while "are to close" suggests a future plan or arrangement. The former is about persistence, the latter about intention.