continues to

USAGE SUMMARY

"continues to" is correct and is used in written English.
It is used when you are describing an action that is ongoing, or is still happening. For example: "The rain continues to fall heavily."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He continues to compete.

The New York Times - Sports

Booming continues to evolve.

The New York Times

It continues to be".

The New York Times

Backcountry continues to grow.

The New York Times

Outsourcing continues to Korea.

The New Yorker

It continues to deteriorate.

The New York Times

Gold continues to glitter.

Independent

Kobani continues to burn.

Independent

Parenthood continues to penalise.

Independent

Violence continues to flare.

The New York Times

He continues to teach.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continues to" when you wish to show that something has not ceased, and is likely to carry on.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of "continues to" can make writing sound monotonous. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "persists" or "remains" for a more engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continues to" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating an ongoing action or state. It connects a subject with a verb, emphasizing that the action described by the verb is in progress, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continues to" is a versatile verbal phrase used to indicate an ongoing action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common in written English. It’s prevalent in news and media, formal business contexts, and encyclopedias. While the phrase is generally appropriate, varying your sentence structure with synonyms can prevent monotony. With the use of "continues to", a writer can show that something has not ceased, and is likely to carry on.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is still

Offers a simpler way to express an ongoing action or state.

remains

Indicates a state of continuing to be in a certain condition.

carries on

Emphasizes persistence or continuation despite challenges.

keeps on

Suggests a more casual or habitual continuation.

persists in

Highlights a determined or stubborn continuation.

goes on

Implies a general continuation, often without a specific direction.

proceeds to

Focuses on the next step in a sequence of actions.

sustains

Implies maintaining or supporting something over time.

endures

Conveys a sense of lasting or surviving over time.

prevails

Suggests ultimately succeeding or continuing despite opposition.

FAQs

How can I use "continues to" in a sentence?

You can use "continues to" to describe an action or state that is ongoing, such as "The company "continues to grow"" or "The problem "continues to persist"".

What are some alternatives to "continues to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "persists", "remains", or "carries on" instead of "continues to".

Is it better to use "continues to" or "continues"?

The phrase "continues to" is typically followed by a verb, while "continues" can stand alone or be followed by a noun or infinitive. For example, "The project continues to evolve" versus "The project continues its evolution."

What's the difference between "continues to" and "still"?

"Continues to" emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action, while "still" can imply a sense of surprise or duration. For instance, "The rain "continues to fall"" simply states the ongoing action, whereas "It is still raining" might suggest it has been raining for a long time.