continues happening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continues happening" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that an event or situation is ongoing, but it is better to use more conventional phrasing. Example: "The rain continues happening despite the weather forecast predicting sunshine."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I like thinking of that decontextualization as a fluid process that continues happening over time. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Magic continued happening.

The New York Times

It's going to continue happening".

The New York Times

And why do you think such accidents continue happening in some countries but not in others?

The New York Times

He says it will continue happening, because of irregularities inherent in the Dominican system of registrations.

The New York Times - Sports

It would continue happening after Benitez, who is now 27, reached the majors later in that 1994 season.

The New York Times - Sports

The problem continued happening "about once a week" for a few months but steadily got worse and seemed resistant to all allergy medication.

Independent

I can't see Facebook allowing that to continue happening.

TechCrunch

Such jumps from camels to humans "will just continue happening until the exposure to camels is reduced," Rambaut says.

Science Magazine

Or rather, everything continued happening.

Huffington Post

"I want them to stop being scared because if they don't talk things continue happening," the woman said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "keeps happening" or "continues to occur" for improved clarity and naturalness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase "continues happening" in formal writing. Although grammatically correct, it may sound redundant and less polished than alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continues happening" functions as a conjunction phrase, linking the idea of continuation with an ongoing event. While Ludwig examples show its usage, it is not the most common or preferred construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continues happening" is grammatically acceptable but considered somewhat awkward and uncommon in contemporary English. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a preferred construction, with more conventional alternatives available. While it functions to emphasize the ongoing nature of an event, phrases like "keeps happening" or "continues to occur" are generally clearer and more natural. Its usage spans across news and media, as well as scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral register. Therefore, while understandable, writers should consider more polished alternatives for improved clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keeps happening

This alternative replaces "continues" with "keeps", offering a slightly more informal and common way to express the idea of something repeatedly occurring.

continues to occur

This phrase uses the more formal word "occur" instead of "happen", maintaining a similar meaning but with a more elevated tone.

persists in happening

The inclusion of "persists" emphasizes the stubborn or unwavering nature of the ongoing event.

is still happening

This alternative shifts the focus to the present state of the event, highlighting its current occurrence.

happens repeatedly

This version uses "repeatedly" to directly convey the recurring nature of the event.

is constantly happening

Replacing "continues" with "constantly" stresses the incessant and continuous nature of the event.

remains ongoing

This alternative uses "remains" to indicate that the state of 'ongoing' is preserved.

is perpetually happening

By using "perpetually", this phrase suggests that the event happens endlessly or indefinitely.

carries on happening

This alternative uses the phrasal verb "carries on" for a more colloquial tone, while still indicating continuation.

unfolds continuously

This phrase replaces "happening" with "unfolds continuously" to convey the idea of an event progressing without interruption.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "continues happening" in a sentence?

While grammatically sound, "continues happening" isn't the most common phrasing. A better alternative is to rephrase using alternatives like "keeps happening" or "continues to occur" to improve clarity and naturalness.

What's the difference between "continues happening" and "keeps happening"?

"Keeps happening" is more informal and commonly used compared to "continues happening". While both convey the idea of repeated occurrence, the former is often preferred in everyday conversation and writing. Consider also "remains ongoing".

Are there situations where "continues happening" is the best choice?

While not typically preferred, "continues happening" might be used when emphasizing both the continuation and the active unfolding of an event. However, it's usually more effective to opt for more conventional alternatives. An alternative could be "is constantly happening".

What can I say instead of "continues happening" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "continues to occur" or "persists in happening". These options elevate the language while maintaining the core meaning.