continue to complicate

USAGE SUMMARY

This phrase is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something becoming increasingly more complicated or complex. For example: "This issue continues to complicate international relations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Politics continue to complicate energy policy.

MIT Technology Review

The very element that facilitates the United States-India relationship  — democracy — will continue to complicate it.

The New York Times

There are also legacy issues that will continue to complicate the relationship.

The New York Times

That attitude could continue to complicate relations with America's Congress, despite the Bush administration's readiness to work with her.

The Economist

"Sharp swings in investor sentiment and financial conditions will continue to complicate the conduct of macro policy in developing countries," the report said.

The New York Times

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Factors such as ethnic migration, extended commerce, and political flux continue to complicate language patterns in many parts of Asia.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

It was/is a simple and astonishingly effective interruption of the narrative of business-as-usual to see so many individuals and institutions to come together to draw attention to the fact that the AIDS crisis exists and continues to complicate and crush communities under the weight of treatment complications and prejudice.

Huffington Post

And the fallout from the WikiLeaks disclosures continues to complicate diplomats' day-to-day work.

The New York Times

But the issue continues to complicate the long-delayed prosecutions now proceeding at Guantánamo.

The New York Times

Later, Sinhalese-speaking government officials hurriedly took down unfamiliar Tamil names phonetically something that continues to complicate the tracing of missing persons.Children proved most susceptible to separation.

The Economist

As the Health Committee reports today, under the chairmanship of the former Conservative Health Secretary, Stephen Dorrell: "The reorganisation process continues to complicate the push for efficiency gains".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continue to complicate" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of a complicating factor. It highlights that the issue is not a one-time event, but rather a persistent influence.

Common error

Avoid using "continue to complicate" when simpler terms like "complicate" or "make difficult" would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the ongoing or repetitive nature of the complication is important to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to complicate" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe an ongoing action that increases the difficulty or intricacy of a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continue to complicate" correctly describes the ongoing action of making something more complex. It is most commonly found in news and media sources. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in a variety of formal and neutral registers. While there are many alternative phrases, like "exacerbate the difficulties", or "compound the complexity", you can follow our guidance to use "continue to complicate" when emphasizing the persistent and evolving nature of a complication. Be mindful of avoiding overuse in situations where simpler language would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep making more intricate

Emphasizes increasing intricacy rather than just complication.

keep adding layers of complexity

Focuses on the addition of successive layers making something difficult.

compound the complexity

Refers to the action of increasing complexity by adding to it.

persist in making complex

Highlights persistence in creating complexity.

exacerbate the difficulties

Implies worsening already existing difficulties.

continue to muddle

Suggests creating confusion and lack of clarity.

sustain the complexity

Suggests maintaining an existing complex state.

perpetuate the intricacy

Implies that intricacies are already there and are simply being reinforced.

maintain the confusion

Highlights maintaining an existing state of confusion.

keep fueling problems

Focuses on exacerbating difficulties instead of general complication.

FAQs

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

You can use "continue to complicate" to describe something that is making a situation more complex over time. For example, "The new regulations "continue to complicate" the business's operations".

What are some alternatives to "continue to complicate"?

Alternatives to "continue to complicate" include "exacerbate the difficulties", "compound the complexity", or "keep making more intricate" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "continue to complicate" or "continues to complicate"?

"Continue to complicate" is used when referring to a general or hypothetical situation. "Continues to complicate" is correct when the subject is singular and the verb refers to an ongoing action. Example: "Sharp swings continue to complicate the conduct of macro policy".

How is "continue to complicate" different from simply "complicate"?

"Complicate" refers to a single act of making something complex. "Continue to complicate" implies an ongoing or repeated action that adds to the complexity over a period of time. It highlights the persistent nature of the complicating factor.