continuing to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continuing to happen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing event or situation that is still occurring. Example: "The rain has been continuing to happen for several days, causing flooding in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But that's what happened and is continuing to happen.

The New York Times - Magazine

The changes are painfully slow, but they have happened, and they are continuing to happen.

University of California, Berkeley

History is littered with moments when companies and inventors, unwise to the dangers, began to have trouble controlling their trademarks; Hoover is one of the most obvious examples to the British, but marks such as zipper and yo-yo lost their status completely decades ago, and it's continuing to happen, netbook and pilates being two more recent examples.

Independent

And they're frustrated, frankly, with people like me, and those in positions of public trust and power who have been unable to resolve this or bring justice for what has been done and to stop it from continuing to happen in this country.

The Guardian

Pro-nuclear advocates must become proactive to prevent this from continuing to happen.

Forbes

This is not something in the past, it is something that is continuing to happen.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This cannot continue to happen.

The New York Times

Accidents continued to happen.

The Guardian - Arts

It will continue to happen".

The New York Times

Hopefully that continues to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

"That will continue to happen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continuing to happen" to clearly emphasize that an event is not isolated but part of a sequence or trend. This is especially useful in reports or analyses where demonstrating persistence is important.

Common error

Avoid using "continuing to happen" in contexts where a simple verb tense would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive or unnecessarily complex. Opt for simpler phrasing when the continuous aspect isn't crucial to the meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continuing to happen" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a verbal emphasizing the ongoing nature of an event or situation. It is commonly used to describe processes that persist over time, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continuing to happen" functions as a gerund phrase used to emphasize the ongoing nature of an event. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best used when the continuous aspect is important to the meaning and can be replaced with phrases like "still unfolding" or "persistently occurring" depending on nuance. Avoid overuse to maintain clarity. The phrase is a neutral way to communicate that something is in progress and hasn't stopped.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happening consistently

Suggests steady and reliable occurrence.

persistently occurring

Highlights the repetitive nature of the event.

repeatedly taking place

Focuses on the recurrence of the event.

still unfolding

Emphasizes the gradual revelation of events.

carrying on

Implies a continuation despite potential obstacles.

remaining in effect

Indicates that a rule, law, or situation is still valid.

uninterrupted process

Highlights lack of disruption.

ongoing situation

Describes the current state of affairs, without specifying a change.

in perpetual motion

Emphasizes continuous activity without cessation.

never-ending story

Metaphorically describes a situation that feels prolonged.

FAQs

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

Use "continuing to happen" to describe an event or situation that is in progress and has not yet stopped. For example, "Despite the efforts, the data breaches are "continuing to happen"".

What are some alternatives to "continuing to happen"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "still unfolding", "persistently occurring", or "repeatedly taking place" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "continue to happen" and "continuing to happen"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable, "continuing to happen" places more emphasis on the ongoing nature of the event. "Continue to happen" is a more general statement of expectation.

When should I use "continuing to happen" instead of "ongoing"?

Use "continuing to happen" when you want to actively emphasize that an event has been in progress and has not ceased. "Ongoing" is a more static descriptor and does not necessarily imply a process or action that is actively continuing.