continued to excel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued to excel" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use the phrase to convey that someone is maintaining or even improving their performance at a given task. For example: "Despite the difficult conditions, John continued to excel in his studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

At Harvard Law School, Roberts continued to excel, in an even more competitive atmosphere.

The New Yorker

After signing with the Flyers in 2007, Briere continued to excel in the spring.

The New York Times - Sports

Angelo, Keemy's older brother, has continued to excel and is headed to college in the fall on a partial scholarship.

The New York Times - Magazine

For years, she continued to excel in school, ran 5Ks, and competed in talent shows, Edwards says.

MIT Technology Review

And Barber, except for his fumble, continued to excel in limited rushing attempts and as a receiver out of the backfield.

The New York Times - Sports

The boos grew louder when the Eagles stumbled to an 0-4 start but McNabb won the starting job and Staley continued to excel.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Lundmark, meanwhile, continues to excel.

The New York Times - Sports

Dimitri Payet: West Ham's new explosive playmaker continues to excel.

Independent

Flores has played serviceably there while continuing to excel at the plate.

The New York Times - Sports

Here the Spaniard inspired the sport in which Mexicans continue to excel: tax-dodging.

The Economist

Edwar Ramírez continues to excel at Scranton, and Karstens and Brower have minor league options.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continued to excel" when you want to emphasize sustained high performance after an initial period of success. It implies a pattern of consistent achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "continued to excel" as a generic compliment. Provide specific examples of the person's achievements to make your praise more meaningful and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued to excel" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the ongoing nature of superior performance or achievement. Ludwig's examples show it commonly follows a subject, describing their sustained success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

18%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continued to excel" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe sustained high performance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and applicable in various formal and informal contexts. The primary contexts for this phrase are news, media, academia, and science, showcasing its versatility. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "maintained excellence" or "remained successful", the choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. When using "continued to excel", be sure to provide specific examples to support the claim of sustained high performance for greater impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excelled consistently

Highlights the regularity and reliability of high performance.

remained successful

Implies continued achievement at a consistent level.

maintained excellence

Focuses on preserving a high standard, rather than necessarily improving it.

progressed successfully

Highlights advancement and positive outcomes.

sustained high performance

Emphasizes consistent output and effectiveness over time.

persisted in thriving

Highlights resilience and overcoming challenges while succeeding.

showed consistent improvement

Focuses on the aspect of ongoing progress.

carried on flourishing

Focuses on a sense of growth and prosperity over time.

went from strength to strength

Idiomatic expression suggesting increasing success.

kept up the good work

Informal way to praise continuing successful actions.

FAQs

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

You can use "continued to excel" to describe someone's sustained high performance. For example: "Despite the challenges, she "continued to excel" in her studies."

What are some alternatives to "continued to excel"?

You can use alternatives such as "maintained excellence", "remained successful", or "excelled consistently" depending on the context.

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

"Continue to excel" implies an action that will happen in the future or is currently in progress, while ""continued to excel"" refers to an action that happened in the past. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "continued to excel" and "started to excel"?

"Continued to excel" suggests that someone was already performing well and maintained or improved that performance, while "started to excel" means that someone began to perform at a high level after a previous period of average or poor performance.