he kept on working

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "he kept on working" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's perseverance in continuing the work that they are doing, despite any obstacles or difficulties. For example: "Despite the setbacks, he kept on working and completed the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

He kept on working until the works became unfamiliar to him, as awkward in the world as he probably felt in his own skin.

The Guardian - Arts

He kept on working, mostly in tele-vision.

The Guardian - Film

And he kept on working hard, and he ended up at a national laboratory, helping to develop a new kind of digital medical imaging system.

The New York Times

He kept on working through the end of the Second World War, and got to see his story "Little Pinks" made into the fine film "The Big Street".

The New Yorker

The key difference between Newman's career and that of Dean and Brando was that he kept on working in mainstream movies.

Independent

He kept on working on TV and in 2008 told Mark Lawson in an interview for BBC TV: "I don't want to stop.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"He got very despondent about the whole thing, but he just kept on working".

The New York Times - Arts

He keeps on working and he gets his chance in the end.

The Guardian - Sport

Like a well-worn timepiece, he is occasionally battered — on the field, in the news media and, if recent reports are true, in the Cowboys' locker room — and he keeps on working.

The New York Times - Sports

"Every year he keeps on working harder and getting better.

BBC

Why did he keep on working?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he kept on working" to emphasize someone's perseverance in the face of challenges. It's particularly effective when highlighting persistence despite obstacles.

Common error

While "he kept on working" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "he persevered" or "he continued to labor" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he kept on working" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the continuation of an action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and conveys the idea of sustained effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he kept on working" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey continued effort and persistence. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and suitable for various contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, highlighting its use in reporting sustained action. Remember to consider your audience and the desired tone when deciding whether to use "he kept on working" or a more formal option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he persisted in his work

This alternative replaces the phrasal verb "kept on working" with a more formal construction using "persisted".

he continued to labor

This phrase substitutes "working" with "labor", emphasizing the effort involved, and uses "continued to" instead of "kept on".

he persevered with his task

This alternative uses "persevered" to highlight the determination and effort in continuing the work, with "task" specifying the nature of the work.

he remained diligent in his efforts

This expresses sustained effort through "remained diligent", focusing on consistent and careful application to the work.

he didn't give up on the job

This alternative focuses on the aspect of not quitting, conveying the persistence in continuing the work.

he carried on with the assignment

This option uses "carried on" as a substitute for "kept on", with "assignment" specifying the work.

he pressed forward with the project

This alternative uses "pressed forward" to emphasize determination and continued progress with the specified task, "project".

he maintained his work ethic

This shifts focus to maintaining a consistent approach to work, rather than the act of continuously working.

he stayed committed to the endeavor

This implies a dedication and continued involvement with the "endeavor", highlighting commitment as the reason for persistent work.

he saw the work through

This option focuses on completing the work, suggesting persistence until the end.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he kept on working" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives such as "he persevered", "he continued to labor", or "he remained diligent in his efforts". These options offer a more sophisticated vocabulary while retaining the meaning of continuous effort.

Is "he kept on working" grammatically correct?

Yes, "he kept on working" is grammatically correct. The phrase uses the verb "keep" in its past tense, followed by the preposition "on" and the gerund "working", which together indicate continued action or effort.

What is the difference between "he kept working" and "he kept on working"?

While both phrases are similar, "he kept on working" often emphasizes the continuous and persistent nature of the work. The addition of "on" slightly strengthens the idea of sustained effort over time. The option "he kept working" is more general.

When is it appropriate to use "he kept on working" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "he kept on working" in both informal and neutral contexts, such as news articles or casual conversations. While grammatically correct, consider using more formal alternatives like "he persisted" in academic or professional writing to maintain a sophisticated tone.