keep on

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express continuance or to express an encouragement to someone to continue doing something. Example sentence: Keep on studying, and you'll ace the exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And keep on going".

The New York Times

Just keep on!

University of California, Berkeley

"Just keep on about it.

Independent

They just keep on drinking".

The New York Times

To keep on as before.

The New York Times

"We'll keep on going.

BBC

They keep on surprising us.

BBC

Child will keep on crying, keep on crying.

BMC Public Health

Just keep on running.

WikiHow

Keep on keeping on.

The New York Times - Arts

Keep on, keep on.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "keep on" with the gerund form of a verb (the -ing form) when describing an action, such as "keep on running" or "keep on trying".

Common error

Do not follow "keep on" with an infinitive. Saying "keep on to work" is grammatically incorrect in modern English; instead, use "keep on working".

Linguistic Context

As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrasal verb "keep on" functions as an aspectual marker indicating the continuation or repetition of an action. It is classified as an intransitive phrasal verb when used alone, or as a transitive one taking a gerund as its object.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "keep on" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct phrasal verb that thrives in both motivational and descriptive contexts. The extensive data shows it is favored by major publications like The New York Times and Forbes to describe persistent trends or human determination. Users should feel confident using it to add a sense of movement and continuity to their writing, provided they follow it with the correct gerund form. Whether you are writing a technical report or an encouraging note, "keep on" remains a staple of clear English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue

More formal and standard for professional writing

carry on

Common in British English and slightly more informal

go on

Very versatile but can be less emphatic about the 'persistence' aspect

keep doing

Simpler structure that removes the preposition 'on'

persist in

Implies a higher degree of stubbornness or determination

proceed with

Suggests moving forward with a planned course of action

sustain

Technical or formal term for maintaining an effort over time

keep up

Focuses more on maintaining a pace or standard rather than just duration

not stop

Uses negation to emphasize the lack of interruption

stick with

Focuses on loyalty or commitment to a specific task or idea

FAQs

How do I use "keep on" in a sentence?

You can use "keep on" to express that an action is continuing without stopping. For example: "If you <a href="/s/keep+on+studying" target="_blank" rel="alternative">keep on studying, you will eventually master the subject".

What is the difference between "keep on" and "continue"?

While both mean to persist, "<a href="/s/continue" target="_blank" rel="alternative">continue" is more formal. "keep on" often suggests a sense of repetitive action or even annoyance, as in "he keeps on asking the same question".

Is "keep on" or "keep up" more appropriate?

It depends on the intent. Use "keep on" for persistence of an activity, whereas "<a href="/s/keep+up" target="_blank" rel="alternative">keep up" is better for maintaining a specific speed, level, or standard.

What can I say instead of "keep on"?

Depending on your context, you might use "<a href="/s/carry+on" target="_blank" rel="alternative">carry on", "<a href="/s/persist" target="_blank" rel="alternative">persist", or simply "<a href="/s/keep" target="_blank" rel="alternative">keep" followed by a gerund.