continue to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

"continue to happen" is a grammatically correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is ongoing or regularly occurring. For example, "The struggles and unrest in the city are continuing to happen despite efforts to resolve the conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Huffington Post

The Guardian

The New York Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This cannot continue to happen.

The New York Times

It will continue to happen".

The New York Times

"That will continue to happen.

The Guardian

We can't let this continue to happen".

The Guardian

"But it will continue to happen".

The Guardian

"That's why abuses continue to happen".

The Guardian

"We don't want that to continue to happen".

The New York Times

We'll only see this continue to happen more and more.

Independent

That is already happening and will continue to happen.

The Guardian

These moments continue to happen to us in 2015.

The Guardian - Opinion

This needs to change or it will continue to happen.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continue to happen" to describe ongoing or recurring events, especially when you want to emphasize that something is not stopping despite efforts to prevent it. For instance, "Despite the new regulations, accidents continue to happen at the intersection."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "continue to happen" can sound less formal than alternatives like "persist in occurring" or "recur repeatedly". Consider the tone of your writing and choose more sophisticated vocabulary if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to happen" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the persistence or repetition of an event or action. It builds on the verb "continue" to emphasize the ongoing nature of the happening. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "continue to happen" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe ongoing or recurring events. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and provides ample examples across diverse sources. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to consider context and opt for more formal alternatives in certain writings. The phrase functions effectively to emphasize the persistence of a situation, often highlighting a lack of resolution or change. When aiming for more stylistic variation, consider alternatives like "persist in occurring" or "recur repeatedly". The phrase is widely employed in news, media, and general discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persist in occurring

Replaces "continue" with "persist" and uses the more formal "occurring" instead of "happen".

recur repeatedly

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the event with "repeatedly" and uses the more formal "recur".

keep taking place

Uses the more colloquial "keep" and "taking place" instead of "continue" and "happen".

go on unabated

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the occurrence.

carry on unfolding

Emphasizes the ongoing development of events with "unfolding".

remain in effect

Suggests a state or condition is sustained over time rather than an event repeating.

hold true going forward

Focuses on a principle or idea remaining valid in the future.

sustain its course

Implies that something already in motion will maintain direction and momentum.

is bound to reoccur

Indicates an event's inevitability to repeat, changing the nuance from continuous occurrence to expectation of recurrence.

be expected to happen

Expresses a prediction that an event will occur, changing the nuance from continuous occurrence to anticipated future occurrence.

FAQs

What does "continue to happen" mean?

The phrase "continue to happen" means that something is ongoing or repeatedly occurring. It implies that an event or situation is not stopping and is expected to persist.

What can I say instead of "continue to happen"?

You can use alternatives like "persist in occurring", "recur repeatedly", or "keep taking place" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "continue to happen"?

While the word "continue" already implies an ongoing action, using "happen" emphasizes the occurrence or event itself, which can provide clarity or emphasis depending on the context. The phrase isn't strictly redundant but could sometimes be replaced with a single stronger verb.

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

You can use "continue to happen" to describe undesirable events one hopes to stop. For example, "We must take action to ensure that these mistakes do not "continue to happen"".