continue to deteriorate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continue to deteriorate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that a situation is getting worse and worse over time. For example, "The political situation in the country continued to deteriorate, leading to increased civil unrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If this is not done, the situation will continue to deteriorate.

Huffington Post

And safety conditions continue to deteriorate.

The New York Times

And the government's finances continue to deteriorate.

The Economist

It is no wonder sales continue to deteriorate.

Independent

If it prints money, public finances will continue to deteriorate.

The Economist

"They do not want the country to continue to deteriorate".

The New York Times

"The public finances continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate.

The Guardian - Business

Will America really let its public infrastructure continue to deteriorate?

The Guardian - Opinion

It meant her eyesight would continue to deteriorate.

The Guardian - Sport

"Meanwhile, conditions in the real estate market continue to deteriorate".

The New York Times

"On the one side, operating fundamentals continue to deteriorate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continue to deteriorate", ensure the subject is clearly defined and the context provides a clear understanding of what is worsening. This adds precision and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "continue to deteriorate" in contexts where the situation is already perceived as extremely negative. Overusing this phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to deteriorate" functions as a verb phrase that describes an ongoing process of something becoming progressively worse. As Ludwig highlights, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable for describing a worsening condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to deteriorate" is a grammatically correct and widely used verb phrase that describes an ongoing process of something becoming progressively worse. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable for expressing concern or warning about a situation. Its usage is most frequent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While synonyms like "continue to worsen" and "continue to decline" exist, it's important to avoid overusing "continue to deteriorate" in already dramatic contexts to maintain its impact. The high frequency and consistent application of this phrase across authoritative sources reinforce its reliability and appropriateness in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue to worsen

Replaces 'deteriorate' with 'worsen', indicating a comparable decline.

continue to decline

Substitutes 'deteriorate' with 'decline', denoting a gradual reduction or decay.

continue to degrade

Employs 'degrade' instead of 'deteriorate', emphasizing a loss of quality or condition.

persist in declining

Replaces 'continue to' with 'persist in', highlighting the ongoing nature of the decline.

progressively worsen

Uses 'progressively worsen' to underscore the gradual and increasing negative change.

consistently decline

Emphasizes the consistent nature of the decline using 'consistently'.

steadily deteriorate

Replaces 'continue to' with 'steadily', suggesting a gradual but consistent deterioration.

spiral downward

Uses a more metaphorical expression to convey the idea of continuous decline.

slide downhill

Another metaphorical expression indicating a continuous negative trend.

go from bad to worse

Expresses the idea of continuous deterioration in a more colloquial way.

FAQs

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

You can use "continue to deteriorate" to describe a situation that is worsening over time. For example, "If the government doesn't intervene, the economic situation will "continue to deteriorate"."

What are some alternatives to "continue to deteriorate"?

Alternatives include "continue to worsen", "continue to decline", or "progressively worsen", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "continue to deteriorate"?

While "deteriorate" already implies a worsening condition, using "continue to deteriorate" can emphasize the ongoing nature of the decline. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis in your writing.

What's the difference between "continue to deteriorate" and "begin to deteriorate"?

"Continue to deteriorate" implies that something has already been worsening and is still doing so, while "begin to deteriorate" suggests the start of a decline. For example, "The patient's health continued to deteriorate" versus "The patient's health began to deteriorate after the surgery."