keeps on counting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keeps on counting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous action of counting that is ongoing or repetitive. Example: "Despite the distractions, she keeps on counting the votes to ensure accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From there, it keeps on counting.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

ONE historian, Edward Tenner, now a visiting researcher at Princeton, who keeps a file on counting problems, says the census and the voting quandaries are typical of what always occurs when people try to change a way of formulating a number.

The New York Times

Keep on counting, noting the first appearance of each letter in the names of numbers.

The Guardian

It just keeps on driving forward: 11 trophies and counting in the years since The Event.

The Guardian - Sport

Cells were harvested at different time points and different treatments, kept on ice, counted, diluted and sparsely plated for standard clonogenic assay (Franken et al (2006); plating efficiencies for Panc-1, Miapaca-2, SWp and SWg cells were 0.62±0.07 (mean±s.e)., 0.35±0.08, 0.89±0.10 and 0.80±0.08 respectively).

British Journal of Cancer

Mr. Young also recommends an emphasis on dividend-paying European stocks, because it's unclear whether American investors can keep counting on a currency boost on their investments.

The New York Times

"You could pin the decision not to keep counting on the news media," he admitted.

The New Yorker

"You could pin the decision not to keep counting on the news media," he admitted..

The New Yorker

If North Korea and Iran can keep counting on the protection of China and Russia in their rule-breaking, progress will be all too slight.

The Economist

DeBoer sounded as if he wanted to keep counting on Brodeur's deep postseason experience — he has won 100 playoff games — as the Devils look to move to the second round for the first time in five years.

The New York Times - Sports

At least, not enough for Google to keep counting on it as an income source.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keeps on counting" to emphasize the continuous and sometimes relentless nature of a counting process. This phrasing adds a sense of persistence or ongoing activity.

Common error

Avoid using "keeps on counting" in highly formal or academic writing, where more concise alternatives like "continues to count" or "persistently counts" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keeps on counting" functions as a verb phrase indicating the continuous action of counting. It emphasizes the ongoing and uninterrupted nature of the counting process, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keeps on counting" is a grammatically sound verb phrase that emphasizes the continuous nature of the action of counting. Ludwig indicates that it is suitable for general use, although it might be considered informal for academic or highly formal writing. More formal alternatives such as "continues to count" may be preferred in those settings. The phrase is found in diverse sources, including news media and scientific publications, but it's relatively rare. Be mindful of context and audience when opting for this phrase to ensure clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continues to count

Replaces "keeps on" with "continues to", indicating an ongoing action without interruption.

keeps counting

Shortened version omitting "on", maintaining the meaning of continuous counting.

persistently counts

Emphasizes the persistence in counting, highlighting the unwavering nature of the action.

repeatedly counts

Focuses on the repetitive nature of counting, suggesting multiple instances of the action.

is constantly counting

Highlights the frequency of the counting, implying it happens very often.

accumulates continuously

Shifts the focus to accumulation, implying the counting leads to a continuous increase.

keeps a running tally

Suggests maintaining a current count, like a score or total.

maintains the count

Focuses on the act of preserving the count at its current value, typically to avoid resetting it.

tallies indefinitely

Highlights the continuous and potentially endless aspect of the counting process.

keeps adding up

Focuses on the summation aspect, implying that the count is an accumulation of values.

FAQs

What does "keeps on counting" mean?

The phrase "keeps on counting" means to continue counting without stopping. It suggests a continuous or repetitive action of counting.

How can I use "keeps on counting" in a sentence?

You can use "keeps on counting" to describe someone who is continuously calculating or accumulating a total. For example, "Despite the interruptions, she "continues to count" the votes."

What are some alternatives to "keeps on counting"?

Alternatives include "continues to count", "keeps counting", or "persistently counts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "keeps on counting" formal or informal?

"Keeps on counting" is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, using phrases like "continues to count" is preferable.