it was continual

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was continual" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that occurs repeatedly or without interruption over a period of time. Example: "The rain was so heavy that it was continual throughout the night, causing flooding in several areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was continual pressure".

Independent

It was very easy and quick to show that it wasn't a matter of rapid turnover and periodic synthesis — it was continual synthesis and occasional catastrophic proteolysis that was causing the sawtooth waves in cyclin levels, and that was basically it.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I get quite fed up as it's continual and I don't sleep very well".

BBC

And it's continual harassment along the way".

Vice

Still, the network saw it's continual coverage pay off.

Huffington Post

That's because it's continual for the rest of his life so.

BMC Pediatrics

Participants responded yes/no to the following question; ' Has this pain last more than 3 months?' However, this does not mean that participant had to be in pain every day over the last 3 months; rather, they experienced pain on most days during this time, whether it be continual or not.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

All this added up to the idea that London is a place that has undergone convulsive change, all the more marked because it has been continual.

The Guardian - Books

He and Sacha Millstone, senior vice president at Raymond James, agree that there will not be a manufacturing "boom" coming down the pipe, but as Rubin put it, there will be "continual steady improvement".

Forbes

"He had never really recovered the use of his legs, and it was a continual deterioration of his health".

The New York Times

It was a continual hotspot despite the cool evening temps, a surreal dose of pure raw energy, with immediate effects.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was continual" to describe events or processes that happen repeatedly with short intervals or no intervals at all. Ensure the context clearly indicates the repetitive nature of the action or state being described.

Common error

Avoid using "it was continual" when you mean "it was continuous". "Continual" implies frequent repetitions, while "continuous" implies an unbroken flow. If there are no breaks or interruptions, "continuous" is the better choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was continual" functions as a descriptive statement. 'It' serves as a pronoun referring to a previously mentioned subject, 'was' is a linking verb, and 'continual' is an adjective describing the state or action. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase “it was continual” is used to describe something that happens repeatedly. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct, but its frequency is low. It appears mostly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the repetitive nature of the action. If you want to emphasize an unbroken flow you should use "it was continuous" instead. Other alternatives are "it was constant", "it was unceasing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was continuous

Replaces "continual" with its direct synonym "continuous", emphasizing uninterrupted flow.

it was constant

Substitutes "continual" with "constant", highlighting the unchanging nature of the action or state.

it was unceasing

Replaces "continual" with "unceasing", stressing the relentless and non-stopping quality.

it was perpetual

Changes "continual" to "perpetual", suggesting an endless and ongoing duration.

it was incessant

Replaces "continual" with "incessant", emphasizing the repetitive and often irritating nature of the action.

it kept happening

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct and less formal expression of repeated occurrence.

it occurred repeatedly

Replaces the adjective with an adverbial phrase emphasizing the repetition of the event.

it persisted

Shifts the focus to the enduring nature of the subject rather than the action itself.

it went on without stopping

Offers a longer, more descriptive alternative emphasizing the lack of interruption.

it was always happening

Provides a straightforward and simple way to convey the consistent occurrence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it was continual" in a sentence?

Use "it was continual" to describe something happening repeatedly. For example, "The noise outside "it was continual", making it hard to concentrate".

What does "it was continual" mean?

"It was continual" means something happened repeatedly, with short intervals or without stopping for long.

Which is better, "it was continual" or "it was continuous"?

The choice depends on the context. "It was continual" implies something repeated, while "it was continuous" indicates something without breaks.

Are there formal alternatives to "it was continual"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "it was unremitting", "it was incessant", or "it was perpetual", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.