continued to widen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued to widen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or situation that is progressively expanding or increasing over time. Example: "The gap between the two teams continued to widen as the season progressed, leading to a significant difference in their standings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the current-account deficit has continued to widen.

The Economist

The gap between rich and poor has continued to widen.

The Economist

ECONOMY Brazil's trade deficit continued to widen in the year to February.

The Economist

The gulf in dollars separating the best and the rest has continued to widen.

The New York Times

Since the election, yields on the island's 30-year bonds have continued to widen.

The New York Times

But the gap between rural and urban incomes has continued to widen.

The Economist

The income gap, already at historic highs, has continued to widen through the slump.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, the gap between the urban rich and the rural poor has continued to widen.

The Guardian

In the 20th century the split between literary fiction and love continued to widen.

The Guardian - Books

Chilled-juice sales passed frozen concentrate in 1986, and the gap has continued to widen.

The New York Times - Food

From there, the gap continued to widen, but it seemed unlikely that Schleck could endure by himself for so long.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continued to widen" when describing a gap, deficit, or distance that is increasing over a period. For example, "The achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds has "continued to widen" despite efforts to close it."

Common error

Avoid using "continued to widen" when you actually mean something is shrinking or decreasing. Double-check that the trend you are describing involves an increase, not a reduction. For example, do not use it in sentence like "The company's profit margin "continued to widen", actually it decreased during the end of the year.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued to widen" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an ongoing process of expansion or increase. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and well-suited for describing trends that progressively expand over time. Examples from Ludwig show its application in describing gaps, deficits, and other measurable quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continued to widen" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the progressive increase of a gap, difference, or extent over time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media, followed by scientific and encyclopedic sources. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse communication scenarios. Remember to use it accurately to describe trends that are indeed expanding, and consider alternatives such as "kept expanding" or "expanded further" for variety. As shown in the examples, this phrase is often used to highlight growing disparities or escalating situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanded further

Focuses on the act of expansion happening at a later time.

kept expanding

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the expansion.

persistently grew

Underscores the consistent and ongoing increase.

increased steadily

Indicates a consistent and gradual rise or growth.

remained to grow

Highlights the state of remaining and then developing into growth.

grew more pronounced

Stresses the increasing obviousness or intensity of something.

became progressively broader

Highlights the increase in breadth or scope over time.

stretched out increasingly

Conveys the idea of something becoming longer or more spread out.

extended without ceasing

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the extension.

escalated continuously

Highlights an ongoing increase in intensity or severity.

FAQs

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

Use "continued to widen" to describe a gap, difference, or trend that is increasing over time. For instance, "The income inequality gap "continued to widen" despite government interventions."

What are some alternatives to "continued to widen"?

You can use alternatives like "kept expanding", "persistently grew", or "expanded further" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "continued to widen" or should I use "continued widening"?

"Continued to widen" is grammatically correct and commonly used. "Continued widening" could be used as a noun phrase, but "continued to widen" is a more common verb phrase.

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

"Continued to widen" implies that the widening process was already in progress, whereas "began to widen" suggests it is just starting. Use "continued to widen" when something has already been expanding and is still growing. Use "began to widen" when the thing has started to expand.