continue to grind higher

USAGE SUMMARY

"continue to grind higher" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is gradually increasing over time. For example, "Despite the challenging economic conditions, the company's share price continued to grind higher this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Our view is that the markets are going to continue to grind higher over the last week of April and May on continued positive news out of corporate earnings releases and economic data points".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Additionally, volatility has declined markedly over the past 18 months as the market continues to grind higher.

Forbes

It would not surprise me that when the shares recovered in the morning from the announcement March quarter deliveries were light and started moving higher that short sellers decided that since the stock was continuing to grind higher in the face of bad news it was time to take their losses and buy the stock.

Forbes

Since we last wrote about and lifted our target price for Caterpillar at the end of October, the machinery maker's shares have continued to grind higher (up more than 7%) as more analysts have climbed on board CAT's momentum train, business in important markets like Brazil has begun to pick up and November global dealer sales were solid, rising for the ninth consecutive month.

Forbes

Yet Egyptian universities continue to grind out graduates.

The New York Times

I continue to grind, tacking uphill all the way.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We have to continue to grind at it and be responsible".

The New York Times - Sports

Unlike human writers, CWS will continue to grind out boring and meaningless comparisons.

The New York Times

Congressional committees continue to grind through the evidence and excise all mention of the CIA.

The Guardian

Until reforms such as these are passed, Britain will continue to grind forward with the hand-brake on.

The Economist

"On this stage, in the playoffs, we continue to grind".

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continue to grind higher" to describe a market or economic trend that is steadily increasing, especially when the increase is slow and requires sustained effort.

Common error

Avoid using "continue to grind higher" when describing rapid or volatile increases. This phrase implies a slow, persistent climb, not a sudden surge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to grind higher" functions as a verbal phrase indicating ongoing, effortful upward movement. It's often used in economic and financial contexts, as Ludwig illustrates, to describe the steady increase in market indices or asset values.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to grind higher" describes a slow and persistent upward trend, particularly in financial or economic contexts. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not overly common, it effectively conveys a sense of steady progress despite potential difficulties. The phrase is primarily found in news and media sources and maintains a neutral to professional register. Alternative phrases, such as "continue to ascend gradually" or "progress incrementally upward", can offer slight variations in emphasis. Overall, "continue to grind higher" is a suitable choice when describing a market or asset's slow but steady climb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue to ascend gradually

Replaces "grind" with "ascend" to emphasize upward movement and "higher" with "gradually" to highlight the pace of the increase.

progress incrementally upward

Uses "progress" to focus on advancement and "incrementally" to stress the step-by-step nature of the rise.

persist in climbing

Replaces "continue" with "persist" to emphasize determination and "grind higher" with "climbing" for a general upward movement.

maintain a steady rise

Focuses on the stability of the upward trend rather than the effort involved.

slowly but surely advance

Highlights the reliability and eventual success of a gradual increase.

consistently trend upward

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the upward movement, using business-related language.

steadily make headway

Focuses on making progress against resistance or difficulty.

sustain a gradual uptrend

Emphasizes maintaining an existing upward movement.

gradually improve over time

Focuses on overall improvement rather than just upward movement, but it still can be interchangeable with the QUERY.

inch its way up

Uses "inch" to stress the extremely slow and small increments of the increase.

FAQs

How can I use "continue to grind higher" in a sentence?

You can use "continue to grind higher" to describe assets or markets that are slowly but steadily increasing in value. For example: "Analysts predict that the stock market will "continue to grind higher" despite economic uncertainties."

What does it mean when something "continues to grind higher"?

It means that something, typically a market index or asset value, is gradually and persistently increasing over time, often with a sense of effort or resistance. It suggests a slow but steady upward trend.

Which is a better phrase, "continue to rise" or "continue to grind higher"?

"Continue to rise" is a general term for increasing. "Continue to grind higher" suggests a slow, persistent, and somewhat laborious upward movement. The better phrase depends on the specific context you want to convey.

What are some alternatives to "continue to grind higher"?

Alternatives include "continue to ascend gradually", "progress incrementally upward", or "persist in climbing". Each alternative slightly shifts the emphasis on speed, effort, or overall direction.