continue to play better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continue to play better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when encouraging someone to improve their performance or skills in a particular activity, such as sports or games. Example: "With each practice session, I hope the team will continue to play better as the season progresses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Hopefully, it can take a little pressure off his back and we'll continue to play better".

The New York Times - Sports

"He wants to try to help this team get on the right track and all he's saying is, 'You got to continue to play better,' " Kittles said.

The New York Times - Sports

He tells me he thinks Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader is likely to continue to play better in London than in the rest of the country.

The Guardian

"We are confident as we continue to play better, the weather gets warmer and school ends that we will draw more fans and end the year fine," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I hope that he continues to play better and better and I hope that he and I have a chance to play together more in the final rounds.

The Guardian - Sport

My grandchildren, playing soccer at 3, learned that falling down didn't hurt terribly and that if they wanted to continue to play, they'd better run down the field.

The New York Times

"We'll just continue to play, try and get better, see what happens".

The New York Times

According to the Australian, the Minerals Council of Australia has argued in its submission that the draft fails to address "the central role that adequate access to ­secure and affordable energy plays, and will continue to play, in providing economic opportunity and better living standards for hundreds of millions of people in east and south Asia".

The Guardian - Business

In the coming months, Verizon will continue to play its cards by rolling out better devices on its huge and largely reliable (compared to AT&T anyway) network.

TechCrunch

We can continue to win, continue to play hard, and then, believe me, it gets better".

The New York Times - Sports

"We will continue to play every game with our full concentration, we will try to get better as a team.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continue to play better", ensure that the context implies an expectation of ongoing improvement or a need to sustain a higher level of performance. This phrase is effective when encouraging athletes, teams, or individuals to maintain their efforts.

Common error

Avoid using "continue to play better" when there's no prior context of improvement or expectation of sustained effort. The phrase is most effective when there's a clear understanding that performance has been improving and needs to be maintained or enhanced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to play better" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing an ongoing action with the aim of improving performance. It combines the verb "continue" with the infinitive "to play better", creating an expression of sustained effort towards enhancement. As Ludwig AI correctly states, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to play better" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that serves to encourage sustained or enhanced performance, primarily in contexts related to sports and games. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is valid and useful for expressing the need for ongoing improvement. While relatively rare in overall usage, as evidenced by the limited number of examples, its intent is clear: to motivate individuals or teams to maintain effort and strive for further progress. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use it in sports reporting, and semantically similar alternatives include "keep improving performance" and "sustain improved play". Although it doesn't appear across a wide range of contexts, the phrase's directness and focus make it a valuable expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep improving performance

Focuses on the act of improving consistently.

sustain improved play

Emphasizes maintaining a level of play that is already better.

maintain better performance

Highlights the act of maintaining a higher level of performance.

continue to enhance skills

Shifts the focus to improving the underlying skills.

keep up the good work

A more general encouragement to maintain a good level of performance.

strive for continuous improvement

Emphasizes the effort towards ongoing enhancement.

persist in playing well

Highlights persistence in maintaining a good level of play.

endeavor to improve performance

More formal expression indicating an effort to enhance performance.

go on improving skills

Focuses on the continuation of skills improvement.

proceed to elevate the game

Suggests a progressive increase in the quality of the game being played.

FAQs

How can I use "continue to play better" in a sentence?

You can use "continue to play better" to encourage ongoing improvement in various activities. For example, "With each practice session, I hope the team will "continue to play better" as the season progresses."

What are some alternatives to "continue to play better"?

You can use alternatives like "keep improving performance", "sustain improved play", or "maintain better performance", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "continue to play better"?

It's appropriate when you want to encourage someone to maintain or enhance their performance, especially after they've shown improvement. It implies an expectation of sustained effort and ongoing enhancement.

Is there a difference between "continue to play better" and "continue improving"?

"Continue to play better" specifically refers to improving in a playing context, whereas "continue improving" is a more general term applicable to any skill or activity. The former emphasizes performance, while the latter focuses on general advancement.