keep on shooting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep on shooting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to encourage someone to continue taking photographs or to persist in a particular action, often in a casual or informal setting. Example: "During the event, I told the photographer to keep on shooting to capture every moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect.

The New York Times - Books

Yes, she says, but "when you keep on shooting for nine months, you can't have crisps every day.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We can't keep on shooting ourselves in the foot.

BBC

The Olympus 770SW will take a licking and keep on shooting.

TechCrunch

Stick an SD card from your camera in the slot and LifeDrive offers to copy the photos to itself and delete them from the card so you can keep on shooting.

Forbes

But [Schachter] just tells me to keep on shooting.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Ed and I stayed behind, and we kept on shooting.

The New Yorker

I could hear crying and pleading, but they kept on shooting.

The Guardian

"I looked straight at him and he looked straight at me, and he kept on shooting at me," Private Hirschberg, who was slightly wounded, later told the Israeli radio.

The New York Times

My character just kept on shooting this door, though I was clicking furiously on my attacker.

TechCrunch

He related how they managed to bring down an armored vehicle, the burned shell of which lies on the nearby road, saying: "Twenty of my men kept on shooting it together, they destroyed it". .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing feedback, use "keep on shooting" to emphasize continuous effort and improvement through practice.

Common error

Avoid using "keep on shooting" in formal or somber situations where a more respectful or precise term like "continue firing" or "continue the photography session" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep on shooting" functions primarily as an encouragement or command to continue the action of shooting, whether literally or figuratively. Ludwig provides examples in sports, photography, and even conflict situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep on shooting" is a grammatically sound expression, primarily used to encourage the continuation of an action, especially in informal settings. Ludwig examples show its prevalence across news, media, and wiki sources. Though "keep on shooting" is acceptable, writers should consider formality, opting for phrases like "continue to shoot" or "persist in shooting" in more formal contexts. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and contextually appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep shooting

Shorter version of the original phrase, lacks the emphasis of "on".

carry on shooting

British English equivalent, implies continuing without interruption.

continue to shoot

A more formal and direct way of expressing the same action.

don't stop shooting

Highlights the idea of not ceasing the activity.

persist in shooting

Emphasizes determination despite difficulty, less common.

sustain shooting

Suggests keeping the activity going over a longer period.

maintain shooting

Focuses on upholding a certain level or rate of shooting.

proceed with shooting

Indicates a more planned or structured continuation.

stay with shooting

Suggests loyalty and concentration toward the activity

hold on shooting

Suggests resistance or difficulty in maintaining the activity

FAQs

How can I use "keep on shooting" in a sentence?

You can use "keep on shooting" to encourage someone to continue taking photos or to persist in an action. For example, "Even if you miss, just "keep on shooting" until you get it right."

What can I say instead of "keep on shooting"?

You can use alternatives like "continue to shoot", "keep shooting", or "persist in shooting" depending on the context.

Is "keep on shooting" grammatically correct?

Yes, "keep on shooting" is grammatically correct. It uses a phrasal verb ("keep on") followed by a gerund ("shooting").

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "keep on shooting"?

"Keep on shooting" is suitable for informal contexts, like encouraging a photographer or motivating someone to persist in a game or activity. Avoid it in formal or sensitive contexts where more precise language is needed.