it kept happening

USAGE SUMMARY

"it kept happening" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that continued to occur over a period of time. For example, "I couldn't figure out why it kept happening, but my computer kept crashing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"But then it kept happening.

The New York Times

It kept happening.

The New York Times - Magazine

And it kept happening.

The New York Times

Then it kept happening.

The Guardian - Opinion

It wasn't a small problem, and it kept happening.

The New York Times

Because it kept happening to me over and over.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Yet it keeps happening.

The New York Times

Except it keeps happening.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It keeps happening.

The New York Times - Sports

Having happened, it keeps happening.

The New Yorker

Fingers crossed it keeps happening".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it kept happening" to describe events that recurred unexpectedly or undesirably. This phrase is effective in narratives where repetition is central to the plot or emphasizes a character's frustration.

Common error

While "it kept happening" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overuse in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "it recurred repeatedly" or "it persistently occurred" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it kept happening" functions as a clause expressing a recurring action or event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples show it describing repeated power outages, relationship issues, and technical malfunctions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it kept happening" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe recurring events in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is common in news and media, as well as more informal contexts, to express frustration or emphasize the repetition of an event. While versatile, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives in academic or business writing to maintain a polished tone. The contexts and authoritative sources provided highlight its widespread applicability in describing persistent occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it continued to occur

Replaces "kept happening" with a more formal expression using "continued to occur".

it persistently happened

Substitutes "kept" with "persistently", emphasizing the continuous nature of the event.

it recurred repeatedly

Uses "recurred repeatedly" to highlight the repeated nature of the event.

it happened time and again

Emphasizes the repeated occurrence using the idiomatic expression "time and again".

it happened over and over

Expresses the repetition directly with "over and over".

it transpired repeatedly

Replaces "happened" with "transpired", a more formal synonym.

it unfolded continuously

Uses "unfolded continuously" to suggest a gradual and ongoing process.

it perpetually occurred

Employs "perpetually occurred" to convey a sense of endless repetition.

it unfailingly happened

Highlights the consistency of the event with "unfailingly happened".

it chronically repeated

Uses "chronically repeated" to imply a habitual or persistent recurrence.

FAQs

How can I use "it kept happening" in a sentence?

You can use "it kept happening" to describe a recurring event or situation. For example, "I tried to fix the glitch, but "it kept happening" no matter what I did".

What are some alternatives to "it kept happening"?

Alternatives include "it continued to occur", "it repeated itself", or "it happened again and again", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "it kept happening" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it kept happening" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adverbial structure and is widely used in both spoken and written English.

What's the difference between "it kept happening" and "it keeps happening"?

"It kept happening" refers to a past event that recurred, while "it keeps happening" indicates a present or ongoing recurrence. The choice depends on whether the events are finished or still occurring.