keeps me awake

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'keeps me awake' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or activity that makes you stay awake or alert. For example: "Studying for my exams late at night keeps me awake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Even though I know the Met and security services are doing a fantastic job keeping Londoners safe, it still keeps me awake at night.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

keeps me awake.

The Guardian - Books

It keeps me awake at night".

The New York Times

"It keeps me awake," he has said.

The New York Times - Books

My 10-year-old daughter's health sometimes keeps me awake.

The New York Times

But it's not something that keeps me awake at night".

The Economist

But it keeps me awake during the day.

The New York Times

"If you ask me what keeps me awake at night, this is it," Ms. Grimmett said.

The New York Times

Mr. Levitan: That's another thing that keeps me awake at night.

The New York Times

"The thing that keeps me awake is the bipartisan bickering," he told Mr. Allen.

The New York Times

Related: 'GP recruitment is what keeps me awake at night' | Denis Campbell "They would nurse patients.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keeps me awake" to express concerns or worries that occupy your thoughts and prevent you from sleeping. It's effective in conveying the emotional impact of a situation or problem.

Common error

While versatile, "keeps me awake" can sound overly dramatic in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I'm worried about it" or "It's on my mind" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keeps me awake" functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing the effect of something on the speaker's sleep. It indicates that a particular issue, thought, or event is causing sleeplessness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe a situation that makes you stay awake.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Opinion

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keeps me awake" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey worry, concern, or preoccupation leading to sleeplessness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is valid and commonly used. Analysis of various sources, particularly news and media outlets, reveals its frequent use in describing issues that cause anxiety. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose simpler alternatives like "I'm worried about it" in informal settings. When using alternatives, you can consider "prevents me from sleeping", "disturbs my sleep" or "weighs heavily on my mind" for different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevents me from sleeping

Directly indicates the action of stopping someone from sleeping.

robs me of sleep

Highlights the negative impact on sleep, framing it as something taken away.

causes me sleeplessness

Focuses on the condition of being unable to sleep, a more clinical tone.

makes me lose sleep

Emphasizes the loss of sleep due to a specific cause.

disturbs my sleep

Highlights the disruption of sleep, implying an interruption.

gives me insomnia

Suggests a chronic inability to sleep, a more severe consequence.

preoccupies my thoughts at night

Focuses on mental activity preventing sleep, rather than external factors.

weighs heavily on my mind

Highlights the emotional burden causing sleeplessness.

fuels my anxiety at night

Points to anxiety as the primary cause of staying awake.

worries me excessively

Focuses on the worrying aspect and the extent of it.

FAQs

How can I use "keeps me awake" in a sentence?

You can use "keeps me awake" to describe something that worries you or prevents you from sleeping, such as "The thought of the upcoming deadline really "keeps me awake"".

What can I say instead of "keeps me awake"?

You can use alternatives like "prevents me from sleeping", "disturbs my sleep", or "weighs heavily on my mind" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "kept me awake"?

Yes, "kept me awake" is the past tense form of ""keeps me awake"". It is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe something that prevented you from sleeping in the past.

What's the difference between "keeps me awake" and "keeps me up"?

"Keeps me awake" often implies worry or concern, while "keeps me up" can simply mean preventing sleep, regardless of the reason. For example, "The loud music kept me up" versus "The project deadline "keeps me awake"".