could continue to increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could continue to increase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential for growth or escalation in a particular context, such as statistics, trends, or measurements. Example: "If current trends persist, the population could continue to increase over the next decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

With the likelihood of more cuts, this could continue to increase pressure on children's social care.

The Guardian

In other words, Iksil could continue to increase the position without triggering alarms.

The New York Times - Magazine

Of course, Trump's popularity could continue to increase and he may may well win the Republican nomination.

The Guardian

It's pouring about 50 billion tons of ice into the ocean each year, and scientists think this rate could continue to increase in the future.

The Washington Post

That means the number of 1's and 0's that can be stored on each microchip could continue to increase at an accelerating rate.

The New York Times

For oil, the outcome is uncertain while the use of natural gas could continue to increase in the near term due to its low price and relatively low carbon content.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It was similarly easy to recognize that the prices of houses could not continue to increase forever.

Huffington Post

Think about the affirmation from Moody's we witnessed when Wesleyan University abandoned need-blind admission because they couldn't continue to increase aid and remain a strong institution.

Huffington Post

Burgess said that the number of attacks could be expected continue to increase steadily as long as the world's population continues to increase, sending more humans into the sea.

Vice

If mortgage rates continue to increase, payments could swell next year, too.

The New York Times

In summary, although currently modest, the impact of CH2Cl2 on stratospheric ozone is increasing and if CH2Cl2 concentrations continue to increase they could significantly offset a portion of the decline in anthropogenic chlorine provided by the Montreal Protocol.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could continue to increase", ensure the context clearly establishes what is expected to increase and why. This provides clarity and strengthens your argument or prediction.

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple hedging terms (e.g., "it might possibly could continue to increase"). This weakens your statement and makes your writing sound uncertain. Choose the most appropriate term to convey the intended level of probability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could continue to increase" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or likelihood of future growth or escalation. Ludwig AI indicates that is considered correct in written English. The modal verb 'could' softens the assertion, indicating it's a potential outcome rather than a certainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could continue to increase" is used to express the possibility of future growth or escalation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context provides clarity on what is expected to increase and avoid excessive hedging language. Alternatives like "might keep climbing" or "may further escalate" can provide variety and nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could rise further

Uses "rise" instead of "increase", simplifying the phrase while maintaining a similar meaning.

might keep climbing

Replaces "continue" with "keep" and "increase" with "climbing", offering a more informal tone.

may keep growing

Replaces "continue" with "keep" and "increase" with "growing", resulting in a more general expression of growth.

may further escalate

Substitutes "continue" with "further" and "increase" with "escalate", suggesting a more rapid or intense rise.

potentially keep rising

Substitutes continue with keep and increase with rising, emphasizing probability.

might steadily climb

Adds "steadily" to emphasize a consistent upward trend, while using "climb" instead of "increase".

could see further growth

Replaces "continue to increase" with "see further growth", offering a slightly more concise and less direct expression.

could progressively build

Replaces increase with build and continue with progressively.

might persistently escalate

This alternative replaces continue with persistently indicating continuous behavior, and increase with escalate implying intensification.

may perpetually grow

Replacing continue with perpetually indicates an unending continuation and increase with grow for expansion.

FAQs

How can I use "could continue to increase" in a sentence?

You can use "could continue to increase" when predicting a potential rise in something. For example, "If current trends persist, unemployment "could continue to increase"."

What are some alternatives to "could continue to increase"?

Alternatives include phrases like "might keep climbing", "may further escalate", or "could rise further", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "could continue to increase" or "might continue to increase"?

Both "could continue to increase" and "might continue to increase" are grammatically correct and convey a similar level of possibility. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific context.

What's the difference between "could continue to increase" and "will continue to increase"?

"Could continue to increase" expresses a possibility, while "will continue to increase" expresses a higher degree of certainty or prediction based on current trends.