he kept hearing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he kept hearing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone repeatedly hears something over a period of time. Example: "Despite the noise around him, he kept hearing the faint sound of music in the distance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

He kept hearing good things.

The Guardian - Tech

But he kept hearing more grim stories.

The New York Times - Arts

He said he kept hearing incessant cellphone ringing.

The New York Times - Style

He kept hearing about a paradisiacal stretch of beach in Costa Rica called Mal País.

The New Yorker

You see, he was sixteen, and he kept hearing the mud and rock hitting the window.

The New Yorker

Cohen says that he kept hearing "from the world's leading sheikhs" that Isis were terrifyingly capricious.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

He keeps hearing the word.

The Guardian - Books

But Mr. Branch also wondered why he keeps hearing more about Howard Dean in the news.

The New York Times

Will, one presumes, thinks that the assaults and rapes that he keeps hearing about aren't real.

The New Yorker

"Prince Andrew took up the topic with gusto, saying that he keeps hearing Maxim's name 'over and over again' whenever he discusses doing business in this country.

The Guardian

DAVOS, Switzerland — As Bank of America chief executive Brian Moynihan travels the world in 2018, he says he keeps hearing the same thing over and over: Foreign businesses want to pump money into the United States again after President Trump's tax cuts.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he kept hearing" to build suspense or reveal a gradual understanding of a situation. The repeated nature of the information can highlight its growing importance or the character's increasing awareness.

Common error

Avoid using "he kept hearing" to describe a one-time auditory event. This phrase implies a repeated or continuous experience, not a singular occurrence. Instead, use "he heard" or "he had heard" for single instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he kept hearing" functions as a narrative device to convey the continuous or repetitive reception of auditory information by a subject. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, often to indicate rumors, news, or persistent sounds influencing the subject's perception or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he kept hearing" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the recurring auditory experiences of an individual. Ludwig examples show that it's primarily used in news and media contexts to convey the repeated reception of information, sounds, or rumors. While versatile, it's important to reserve it for situations involving actual repetition, avoiding its use for single auditory events. Alternatives like "he repeatedly heard" or "he was always hearing" can offer nuanced expressions of the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he continued to hear

Focuses on the continuation of the auditory experience.

he repeatedly heard

Emphasizes the repetition of the auditory event.

he persistently heard

Highlights the unwavering nature of the auditory experience.

he constantly heard

Implies a continuous and uninterrupted auditory experience.

he was always hearing

Indicates a frequent and habitual experience of hearing something.

reports consistently indicated to him

Shifts focus to receiving consistent information.

he was continually informed

Changes the mode of receiving information from auditory to general communication.

he received recurring reports

Focuses on the reports rather than the act of hearing.

he was constantly told

Changes from 'hearing' to 'being told', focusing on verbal communication.

rumors persisted around him

Indicates a more general dissemination of information rather than direct hearing.

FAQs

What does "he kept hearing" mean?

The phrase "he kept hearing" means that someone repeatedly received auditory information or impressions over a period of time. It suggests a recurring experience of hearing something, whether it's a sound, a rumor, or news.

How can I use "he kept hearing" in a sentence?

You can use "he kept hearing" to emphasize the recurring nature of auditory input. For example: "Despite his efforts to ignore it, "he kept hearing" whispers about the company's financial troubles."

What can I say instead of "he kept hearing"?

Alternatives to "he kept hearing" include "he continually heard", "he repeatedly heard", or "he was always hearing", depending on the context. Each emphasizes the recurring auditory experience in slightly different ways.

Is there a difference between "he heard" and "he kept hearing"?

"He heard" describes a single instance of hearing something, while "he kept hearing" implies a repeated or ongoing auditory experience. The latter emphasizes the persistence or frequency of the sound or information.