continues to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continues to happen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing event or situation that is still occurring over time. Example: "Despite the challenges, the issue continues to happen, affecting many people in the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hopefully that continues to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

81 mins Nothing continues to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

Of what continues to happen here.

The Guardian

It shouldn't be a surprise if the smog continues to happen," said Chiagozie.

The Guardian

But why this continues to happen is the deeper question at hand.

The Guardian - Opinion

The FSWs say violence continues to happen but at a lower rate.

The Guardian

(And as consolidation continues to happen, who knows what's waiting round the corner in terms of new platforms and paradigms).

The Guardian - Tech

Demonising environmentalists – as happened with Carson, and as continues to happen today – will do nothing to change this.

The Guardian - Books

"I hope something does happen, or continues to happen, like this [campaign]," says Mercado. "People should have an open mind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now we know that what continues to happen to the women and girls of Afghanistan — even while these peace talks take place — isn't cultural, it's criminal.

The New York Times

The reason why abuse continues to happen is because it's a taboo subject that no-one is prepared to talk about.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continues to happen" to clearly indicate that an event or situation is not a one-time occurrence but is ongoing or recurring. Ensure the context supports the idea of continuation.

Common error

Avoid using "continues to happen" when a simpler phrase like "happens" or "occurs" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound redundant or overly formal. Consider alternative expressions that capture the sense of continuation without being verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continues to happen" functions as a verb phrase indicating that an event or situation is ongoing or recurrent. As Ludwig AI highlights, it suggests that something is not a one-time occurrence but is instead persistent or repeated. This can be used to describe both positive and negative events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Huffington Post

11%

Less common in

The New York Times

6%

The Guardian

22%

TechCrunch

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continues to happen" is a grammatically sound and versatile verb phrase used to denote the ongoing or recurrent nature of an event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. As evidenced by the numerous examples, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, although it is also present in scientific and other forms of writing. When using "continues to happen", ensure that the context warrants an emphasis on the continuation or repetition of the event, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts where "happens" or "occurs" would suffice. For alternatives, consider options such as "keeps occurring", "remains ongoing", or "still takes place" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keeps occurring

Emphasizes repeated occurrence with a slightly different verb.

remains ongoing

Focuses on the continuous nature of the event.

carries on happening

Similar meaning, but with a slightly more informal tone.

goes on occurring

Indicates a continuous and uninterrupted series of events.

persists in occurring

Adds a sense of stubbornness or determination in the happening.

is still unfolding

Highlights the ongoing development and revelation of the event.

still takes place

Highlights the continued existence of an event.

is still transpiring

Emphasizes the unfolding or developing nature of the event.

recurrently transpires

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate a recurring event.

uninterruptedly unfolds

Focuses on the lack of interruption in the event's progression.

FAQs

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

You can use "continues to happen" to describe an ongoing situation or a recurring event. For example, "Despite the efforts to reduce pollution, it "continues to happen" in many urban areas".

What are some alternatives to "continues to happen"?

You can use alternatives such as "keeps occurring", "remains ongoing", or "still takes place" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "continues to happens"?

No, the correct form is "continues to happen". The verb "happen" should be in its base form after "to".

What is the difference between "continue to happen" and "continues to happen"?

"Continue to happen" is used when the subject is plural or refers to a general situation, while "continues to happen" is used when the subject is singular. For example, "Mistakes continue to happen" (general) versus "This mistake "continues to happen"" (specific).