it continued was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it continued was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as it combines two verbs in a way that does not make sense. Example: "The rain started to fall, and it continued was a heavy downpour."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Chess will continue in the UK," he says, "but how it continues is not really clear.

The Guardian - Sport

Milk, it continues, is the only drink other than water that dentists recommend between meals.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nevertheless, in the case of martensitic stainless steels, it continues being a problem mainly from the corrosion resistance viewpoint.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Supplying it continues being prohibited.

Vice

Determining the answer, it continued, "is, and will remain, unknowable".

The Guardian

The fact that it's continuing is a positive thing".

The New York Times

Ignore it and continue being yourself.

WikiHow

It allows me to continue being autobiographical".

The New York Times

It continued: "This isn't a playground.

The New York Times

It continued: "There are no exceptions.

The New York Times

Why has it continued to be ignored?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating that something continued to exist or occur, use the construction "it continued to be" or "it continued being" for correct grammar.

Common error

Be careful not to combine "continued" directly with "was". The correct forms require either "to be" or a gerund (e.g. "being") after "continued".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it continued was" functions as an attempt to express a state of ongoing existence or action. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct usage requires an infinitive or gerund after "continued".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it continued was" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting that the correct form requires either "to be" or a gerund such as "being" after "continued". Effective alternatives include "it continued to be", "it went on being", and "it remained", each offering slight variations in meaning and formality. Because of its incorrect structure, "it continued was" has no representation in reliable sources and should not be used in writing or speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it continued to be

This alternative uses the correct infinitive form "to be" after the verb "continued".

it had continued to be

Alternative uses past perfect to express duration before a new time reference.

it went on being

This alternative uses the phrasal verb "went on" to express continuation, followed by the gerund "being".

it carried on being

Similar to "went on being", but with "carried on" as the phrasal verb.

it kept being

This alternative uses "kept" to indicate continuous action or state.

it kept on being

Informal variation using "kept on" to indicate continuous action.

it persisted in being

This is a more formal way of expressing that something continued despite challenges.

it remained

A shorter alternative, emphasizing the state of remaining in a certain condition.

it endured

Emphasizes the lasting nature of something, especially through hardship.

it was still

Simpler construction emphasizing that something's state persisted.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "continued" in a sentence?

Use "continued to be" or "continued being". For example, "The project continued to be successful" or "The project continued being successful".

What's wrong with the phrase "it continued was"?

The phrase "it continued was" is grammatically incorrect because "continued" needs an infinitive ("to be") or a gerund ("being") to connect it to the following descriptive word. Instead, use phrases like "it continued to be" or "it went on being".

Can I use "continued" with a past tense verb?

Not directly. You need an infinitive "to be". You can also rephrase it with alternatives like "it remained" or "it endured".

What can I use instead of "it continued was"?

Use alternatives such as "it continued to be", "it kept being", or "it remained" depending on the context.