continued to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used when discussing a past event, such as a journey, to indicate that the action or event continued onwards. For example: I continued to travel westward until I reached the coast.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She continued to cry.

The New Yorker

People continued to leave.

The New Yorker

Ruscha continued to smile.

The New Yorker

Prices continued to rise.

The New Yorker

He continued to proselytize.

The New Yorker

He continued to fly.

The New York Times

He continued to improve.

The New York Times

Lending continued to plummet.

The Economist

Buchanan continued to stand.

The New Yorker

Ramsay continued to stall.

The New Yorker

Hagiography continued to thrive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continued to" to clearly indicate that an action or state persisted over a period of time. For example, "Despite the challenges, the project continued to progress."

Common error

Avoid using "continued to" in overly simple sentences where it adds little value. Instead of "He continued to walk", consider "He walked on" for a more concise expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued to" functions as an auxiliary verb construction, indicating the ongoing or repeated nature of an action. It modifies the main verb to express that the action persisted over time. Ludwig confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continued to" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express the persistence of an action or state. As indicated by Ludwig, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse in overly simple sentences and choose more concise alternatives when appropriate. Understanding its function as an auxiliary verb construction that emphasizes duration is key to effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persisted in

This alternative emphasizes the act of steadfastly pursuing something despite potential obstacles.

persevered in

This phrase underscores determination and effort in continuing despite challenges.

carried on with

This phrase suggests a continuation of an activity, often implying a lack of interruption.

kept on

This is a more informal way of saying "continued", indicating ongoing action.

proceeded to

This option focuses on moving forward to the next step or action.

went on

This phrase is a general substitute for "continued", implying a sequence of events.

remained

This suggests staying in a particular state or condition without change.

sustained

Implies maintaining something at a certain level or intensity.

endured

This option highlights the ability to withstand difficulties while continuing.

extended

This focuses on prolonging or making something last longer.

FAQs

How can I use "continued to" in a sentence?

Use "continued to" to show that an action or state persisted over a period. For example, "The rain "continued to fall" throughout the night."

What are some alternatives to "continued to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "persisted in", "carried on with", or "kept on".

Is there a difference between "continued to" and "continued with"?

"Continued to" is generally used before a verb to indicate an ongoing action (e.g., "He continued to work"), while "continued with" is used before a noun to indicate the continuation of something (e.g., "He continued with the project").

When is it appropriate to use "continued to" versus a simpler verb tense?

Use "continued to" when you want to emphasize the duration or persistence of an action. In cases where the duration isn't crucial, a simpler tense might suffice. For example, instead of "She continued to sing", you could simply say "She sang" if the focus isn't on the ongoing nature of the singing.