keep on stopping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep on stopping" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is repeatedly halting or ceasing an action. Example: "Every time I try to focus, my thoughts keep on stopping, making it hard to concentrate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moscow's mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, pays lip service to tolerance, but the city police keep on stopping dark-skinned or Asian-looking people to "check their passports", while refusing to react when the same people get bludgeoned in the metro by groups of skinheads.The message has been heard in the big-city suburbs, where most of the dissatisfied young men reside.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The thing has no keyboard, and you can't even swap out the battery if you're on the road and want to keep on talking without stopping to charge up.

Forbes

I just do whatever you wish, you are the Baas, just push into me, I no longer want or wish anything, just stay inside me, just keep on, don't stop".

The New York Times - Books

We simply asked ourselves "What are we willing to risk to rescue our parents or to simply find out if they had survived?" What are we willing to give to help this little town our parents love so much?" The answer was simple; we would keep on giving until it stops hurting.

Huffington Post

He would keep on doing this until people stopped looking at him and resumed their conversations.

The New Yorker

Your safest course, he says, is to ask in no uncertain terms for a lawyer, and keep on asking until the police stop talking to you.

Vice

Don't hesitate to stop or keep on going.

WikiHow

If you're not sure when to stop, just keep on writing.

WikiHow

I keep on telling myself I'll stop and I never do".

WikiHow

"We're just going to keep on telling the truth until it stops working — and nowhere is truth-telling more important than the Middle East".

The New York Times

With Ukraine's army on the run, with President Petro Poroshenko politically wounded after making big concessions to achieve last week's Minsk II peace deal, and with Kiev's divided western allies fulminating impotently and uncertain what to do, Putin may calculate that he can keep on going until he chooses to stop.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keep on stopping" when you want to describe an action that is repeatedly starting and halting, indicating inconsistency or interruption in the process. This construction is often used in informal settings to convey frustration or lack of continuity.

Common error

Avoid using "keep on stopping" in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "repeatedly halting" or "intermittently ceasing" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "keep on stopping" functions to describe a repetitive action of halting or ceasing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It suggests an intermittent or recurrent interruption of an activity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep on stopping" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb, as noted by Ludwig AI, used to describe an action that repeatedly starts and halts. It is generally considered informal and is best suited for casual conversation or less formal writing. When a more sophisticated tone is required, alternatives such as "repeatedly halting" or "intermittently ceasing" are preferable. The examples from Ludwig highlight its usage across various contexts, including news, media, and general discussions, though it is less common in formal or scientific settings. The phrase effectively conveys frustration or annoyance related to activities that are inconsistent or frequently interrupted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep pausing intermittently

Adding "intermittently" specifies that the pausing is not continuous, but occurs at irregular intervals.

repeatedly halt

This alternative uses "halt" which is a more formal synonym for "stop", and "repeatedly" emphasizes the recurring nature.

continually pause

This option replaces "stop" with "pause" to soften the sense of ending the action, "continually" underlines recurrence.

continue to interrupt frequently

This alternative uses a more extended phrasing to emphasize both continuation and frequent disruption.

intermittently cease

"Intermittently" and "cease" add formality and specificity, implying a temporary and irregular cessation.

periodically interrupt

"Interrupt" suggests an external factor causing the breaks, and "periodically" indicates that breaks occur at regular intervals.

frequently discontinue

"Discontinue" introduces a nuance of ending an action, while "frequently" points to the repeated manner.

regularly suspend

"Suspend" suggests a temporary halt, and "regularly" suggests that the pauses occur at regular intervals.

persistently break

"Break" implies something is fracturing the process, and "persistently" notes the constant recurrence.

routinely cut off

"Cut off" implies abrupt endings, whereas "routinely" highlights the regularity of these occurrences.

FAQs

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

You can use "keep on stopping" to describe something that repeatedly starts and stops, such as "The car "kept on stopping" at every red light" or "My thoughts "keep on stopping" when I try to meditate".

What does "keep on stopping" imply?

The phrase "keep on stopping" implies a lack of continuity or consistency, suggesting frequent interruptions or a process that isn't smooth or continuous.

What are some alternatives to "keep on stopping"?

Alternatives to "keep on stopping" include "repeatedly halting", "intermittently ceasing", or "continually pausing". These alternatives may be more suitable for formal contexts.

Is "keep on stopping" grammatically correct?

Yes, "keep on stopping" is grammatically correct, though it's considered more informal. In formal writing, you might prefer more sophisticated alternatives such as "repeatedly halting" or "frequently discontinuing".