how long it continues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how long it continues" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the duration of an event, situation, or condition. Example: "We need to assess how long it continues before making any decisions about the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But in the particulars -- how much a company contributes to its charity, how long it continues paying salaries and bonuses, the extent of life insurance coverage -- it is difficult to measure which companies have been the most generous in their support.

The New York Times

Try dropping a $300 iPod on the sidewalk a few times and see how long it continues to function.

The New York Times - Tech

But the partial shutdown of the American government, depending on how long it continues, could undercut demand from the United States, the euro zone's most important trading partner.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Maybe that was the whole point -- I needed to stop fighting my grief and loneliness, no matter how horrible I was feeling or for how long it continued.

Huffington Post

The Greek government says it will continue to honour its obligations, but how long it can continue to pay public sector workers and government contractors without the bridging loan it wants from Europe is unclear.

The Guardian - Business

For BP, though, the question is how long it can continue splurging cash on its shareholders without becoming so slim that it is vulnerable to a takeover.

The Economist

The agency has not decided how long it will continue to pay for the service, although the city's Department of Transportation said it was confident that the financing would continue into July.

The New York Times

And alongside Turkey's past and present human rights abuses on its own people, the West must ask itself how long it can continue to ignore Turkey's violations.

Huffington Post

How long it will continue and how high it will reach remains open to question.

Independent

"I don't know how long it can continue," he said.

The New York Times

That seemed easier than trying to explain the run, how it originated, how long it might continue.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how long it continues", ensure the context clearly defines what "it" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Be careful not to use "how long it continues" when "it" refers to something unclear or unmentioned earlier in the sentence or paragraph. Always make sure the pronoun has a clear and immediate referent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how long it continues" functions as a dependent clause, typically acting as a noun clause. It introduces a question about duration within a larger sentence. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is usable and grammatical.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how long it continues" is a grammatically sound phrase functioning as a dependent clause, predominantly used to inquire or speculate about the duration of an event or state. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usability. Its usage is more frequent in neutral and professional contexts like news articles and analytical reports. Related phrases include "how long it lasts" and "how long it persists". When using the phrase, ensure the pronoun "it" has a clear referent to avoid ambiguity. While grammatically correct, using a direct question structure like "how long will it continue" may sometimes be more effective for direct inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how long it lasts

This alternative focuses on the duration or the period that something exists or occurs.

how long it persists

This variation emphasizes the endurance or sustained existence of something over time.

for what duration it continues

It uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the specific length of time.

how long it carries on

This alternative uses a phrasal verb, which is more colloquial but retains a similar meaning.

the length of its continuation

This option rephrases the query into a noun phrase emphasizing the continuation itself.

the time span it continues

It focuses on the measured interval of time during which something continues.

how long it is sustained

This alternative emphasizes the maintaining or prolonging of something.

to what extent it continues

This option adds a layer of degree or scope to the continuation.

the period of its continuity

The focus is on unbroken and consistent existence. It is more theoretical.

how much longer it goes on

This emphasizes that continuation already exists and seeks to quantify if there is going to be even more of it.

FAQs

How can I use "how long it continues" in a sentence?

Use "how long it continues" to ask about the duration of an action, event, or state. For example: "The question is, "how long it continues" to rain?"

What are some alternatives to "how long it continues"?

You can use alternatives like "how long it lasts", "how long it persists", or "for what duration it continues" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "how long will it continue" instead of "how long it continues"?

Yes, "how long will it continue" is a grammatically correct and often more common way to phrase the question. It directly asks about the future duration.

What's the difference between "how long it continues" and "how long does it continue"?

"How long does it continue?" is a direct question using the auxiliary verb "does", while ""how long it continues"" is often part of a larger statement or question, acting as a dependent clause. For example: "I wonder "how long it continues"."