continue to shrink

USAGE SUMMARY

"continue to shrink" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to keep decreasing or getting smaller over time. You can use it to describe an ongoing process or trend. Example: The population of the small town continued to shrink as more and more people moved to the city for job opportunities.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Will continue to shrink.

Stanford University

Their ratings will continue to shrink.

The Economist

Will our carbon footprint continue to shrink?

The New York Times

No business can continue to shrink.

Independent

Further investment booms may continue to shrink China's trade surplus.

The New York Times

The company warned that consumer revenues would continue to shrink.

The New York Times

The economies of Spain and Italy continue to shrink.

The Guardian

Glaciers continue to shrink worldwide, affecting villages and towns downstream.

The Guardian

This ensures we continue to shrink the interval by a constant fraction at each iteration.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"You should expect that we will continue to shrink its balance sheet somewhat further".

The New York Times

In the meantime, the forest will continue to shrink.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continue to shrink", ensure the subject is something that can logically decrease in size or amount. For instance, "market share" or "glaciers" can "continue to shrink".

Common error

Avoid using "continue to shrink" with concepts that don't have a tangible or quantifiable size. For example, saying "hope continues to shrink" is less effective than "hope continues to fade" because hope isn't measured in size.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to shrink" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing process of reduction. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It is often employed to describe trends or situations where something is diminishing over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to shrink" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes an ongoing process of reduction or decrease. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears in a wide array of contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject can logically decrease in size or amount. Consider alternatives such as "keep diminishing" or "remain in decline" to add nuance or variety to your writing. In summary, "continue to shrink" is a versatile and reliable phrase for expressing sustained reduction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep diminishing

Replaces "continue to" with "keep", and "shrink" with "diminishing", focusing on a gradual decrease.

decline steadily

Uses "decline" as a synonym for "shrink" and adds "steadily" to indicate a consistent rate of decrease.

consistently diminish

Similar to "decline steadily", this option emphasizes the consistent nature of the reduction with an adverb modifying the verb.

persist in decreasing

Uses "persist in" instead of "continue to" to emphasize the sustained nature of the decrease and replaces "shrink" with "decreasing".

gradually lessen

Highlights the gradual aspect of the decrease, replacing "continue to shrink" with a different choice of verbs.

remain in decline

Shifts from an active verb phrase to a stative description, indicating an ongoing state of decline.

progressively contract

Uses more formal synonyms for both "continue" and "shrink", suggesting a more systematic or measurable decrease.

steadfastly lessen

Similar to 'decline steadily', this option focuses on continuous and consistent decline.

dwindle continuously

Replaces "continue to shrink" with a more descriptive verb and adverb combination, emphasizing gradual reduction.

experience ongoing reduction

Transforms the phrase into a more formal and passive construction, focusing on the experience of reduction.

FAQs

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

You can use "continue to shrink" to describe something that is decreasing in size or amount over time. For example, "The company's profits continue to shrink due to increased competition."

What are some alternatives to "continue to shrink"?

Alternatives to "continue to shrink" include "keep diminishing", "remain in decline", or "decline steadily", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "continues to shrink" instead of "continue to shrink"?

Yes, "continues to shrink" is also correct, but it's used when referring to a singular subject. For example, "The glacier continues to shrink each year."

What's the difference between "continue to shrink" and "shrink continuously"?

"Continue to shrink" implies an ongoing process that was already in motion, while "shrink continuously" emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the shrinking action. The difference is subtle, and they're often interchangeable, however "continue to shrink" is more common.