continued to expand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued to expand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an ongoing process of growth or increase in size, scope, or influence over time. Example: "The company continued to expand its operations into new markets, seeking to increase its global presence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Asian expositions continued to expand.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The regulatory state continued to expand.

The Economist

During that period, settlements continued to expand.

The New York Times

Plantagenet power and dominion continued to expand.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

HMV continued to expand throughout the 90s.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both museums continued to expand into the 21st century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Democracy continued to expand in the Civil War era.

The New York Times

Q Douglas Elliman continued to expand despite the market.

The New York Times

Wolfram continued to expand his company, opening branches worldwide.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But graffiti's influence within the city continued to expand.

The New Yorker

Jacqui's continued to expand to the world of Gyrotonics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continued to expand" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of growth or increase in something, suggesting it didn't stop or slow down. This phrase works well in historical accounts, business reports, and scientific analyses.

Common error

Avoid using "continued to expand" in sentences where the subject is unclear or passive. Instead of "The market continued to expand", consider "Companies continued to expand the market" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued to expand" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action. It signifies that a subject (e.g., a company, a market, a city) was already in a state of expansion and that this expansion persisted over a period of time, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continued to expand" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb phrase that describes the ongoing nature of growth or increase. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Its prevalence in reputable sources like The New York Times, encyclopedias, and academic papers underscores its reliability and versatility. While alternatives exist, "continued to expand" provides a clear and effective way to convey sustained development. The high expert rating reflects its accuracy, authority, and consistent application in diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept on growing

Focuses on the ongoing nature of growth, similar to "continued to expand", but with simpler vocabulary.

persisted in growing

Emphasizes the persistence of growth, suggesting it happened despite potential obstacles.

carried on enlarging

Replaces "expand" with "enlarging", keeping the sense of increasing in size.

went on extending

Substitutes "expand" with "extending", highlighting the lengthening or widening aspect.

advanced further

Indicates progression to a more developed state, implying expansion.

expanded relentlessly

Emphasizes the unstoppable nature of the expansion.

progressed steadily

Implies a consistent and gradual expansion or development.

developed continuously

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the development process.

scaled up consistently

Highlights the aspect of growth and scaling, more appropriate for business contexts.

increased without interruption

Emphasizes the constant nature of the increase, with no pauses or breaks.

FAQs

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

You can use "continued to expand" to describe the ongoing growth or increase of something over time. For example: "The city "continued to expand", incorporating new neighborhoods." or "The company's product line "continued to expand", offering more choices to customers."

What are some alternatives to "continued to expand"?

Some alternatives to "continued to expand" include "kept growing", "persisted in growing", or "went on extending". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "continued to expand" or "continued expanding"?

"Continued to expand" and "continued expanding" are both grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Continued to expand" emphasizes the action of expanding, while "continued expanding" emphasizes the ongoing process of expansion. Use the version that best fits the flow of your sentence.

What's the difference between "continued to expand" and "began to expand"?

"Continued to expand" implies that something was already expanding and then kept doing so. "Began to expand" indicates the start of an expansion process. For example, if a company had steady growth, you'd say it "continued to expand". If it started a new initiative, you'd say it "began to expand".