continued to call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued to call" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an ongoing action of making phone calls over a period of time. Example: "Despite the busy signal, she continued to call until she finally reached him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She continued to call.

The Guardian - Business

Customers continued to call each proprietor Harry.

The New York Times

Mr. Cotto continued to call clients.

The New York Times

But the kids continued to call.

The New York Times - Magazine

Robert continued to call until Stearns picked up.

The New Yorker

Still, Mr. Cohen continued to call Ms. Sultan his fiancée.

The New York Times

Students' unions continued to call on members to protest.

The New York Times

He continued to call up until Feb. 23.

The New York Times

Direct Assist continued to call despite having this information.

The Guardian - Money

Their families sometimes spent vacations together, and Rumsfeld continued to call on Adelman for advice.

The New Yorker

At the time, the F.D.A. continued to call the drug safe.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, be mindful of the context; "continued to call" implies an ongoing action over a period. To emphasize a single instance of repeat calls, alternatives like "called again" might be more suitable.

Common error

Avoid using "continued to call" when you simply mean someone called more than once in a short period. This phrase suggests a more prolonged or persistent effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued to call" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense verb phrase. It describes a past action that was repeated or ongoing. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continued to call" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes a repeated or ongoing action of calling someone in the past. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples, and carries a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. As noted by Ludwig, it accurately describes calling someone multiple times, typically over a period of time, and the phrase is versatile and understood across different mediums.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kept calling

Focuses on the repetition of the act of calling.

Persisted in calling

Emphasizes the determination to continue calling despite potential obstacles.

Repeatedly called

Highlights the multiple instances of calling.

Phoned again and again

Uses more informal language to convey the repeated action.

Called multiple times

States explicitly that the calling occurred more than once.

Rang repeatedly

Employs a synonym for 'called' to express the same concept.

Attempted to reach repeatedly

Focuses on the intention to connect rather than just the act of calling.

Made multiple calls

Uses a different verb to describe the act of calling, emphasizing the number of calls.

Contacted repeatedly

Broadens the scope to any form of contact, not just phone calls.

Followed up by phone

Indicates calling as part of a series of actions.

FAQs

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

Use "continued to call" to describe a repeated action of calling someone over a period of time, for example: "Despite the busy signal, she "continued to call" until she finally reached him."

What are some alternatives to "continued to call"?

Alternatives include "kept calling", "persisted in calling", or "repeatedly called", each with slightly different connotations.

Is it correct to say "continue to call" instead of "continued to call"?

"Continue to call" implies an action that is currently happening or will happen in the future, while ""continued to call"" describes an action that happened in the past.

What is the difference between "continued to call" and "called again"?

"Continued to call" implies repeated calls over a period, whereas "called again" simply means there was more than one call.