keeps on smiling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keeps on smiling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who continues to smile despite challenges or difficulties. Example: "Even after receiving the bad news, she keeps on smiling, showing her resilience and positivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

King keeps on smiling.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And kept on smiling.

The Guardian - Sport

She kept on smiling.

The New Yorker

If it's not sunny On Easter's date And Easter bunnies Still hibernate, Just keep on smiling as you shovel That wet, disgusting snow.

The New York Times

Then Mia Ramirez, Ahmad Ibrahim, and Justin Alexander scrambled onstage, free at last, and pulled aggressively at the character's floppy foam arms and hands and poked their little fists inside his wide plastic mouth, which kept on smiling.

The New Yorker

He was exhausted but he kept on smiling.

Huffington Post

He kept on smiling and waving.

The New Yorker

Do some deals, your highness, and keep on smiling.

The New York Times

The promoter of the fight, Don King, waved two small American flags and kept on smiling.

The New York Times - Sports

Happiness or sadness, regret or anticipation, triumph or embarrassment, warmth or wickedness, the important thing — and apparently sometimes the hardest thing nowadays — is to keep on smiling.

The New York Times

The sound-alike songs are burdened with trite rhyming couplets ("I paid my dues, I fought my wars/I kept on smiling when they slammed the doors") and turn up almost randomly, in a way discredited long ago.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keeps on smiling" to illustrate resilience or a positive attitude maintained during challenging times. It effectively conveys persistence and cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

Common error

While "keeps on smiling" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated language like "maintains a positive demeanor" or "remains optimistic" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "keeps on smiling" is to act as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action. As noted by Ludwig, this usage is both correct and usable in English, effectively describing the ongoing act of smiling. The examples show the verb being used to describe someone who continues to smile despite difficulties.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keeps on smiling" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe someone who continues to smile, often despite difficulties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is both correct and usable in English. While primarily found in news, media, and general contexts, it effectively conveys resilience and a consistently positive attitude. For more formal writing, alternatives such as "continues to smile" or "maintains a positive demeanor" may be more appropriate. Remember to use "keeps on smiling" to illustrate persistence and cheerfulness in the face of adversity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continues to smile

Focuses on the ongoing action of smiling without necessarily implying resilience.

persists in smiling

Emphasizes the persistence of smiling despite potential difficulties.

remains cheerful

Highlights the sustained state of cheerfulness, which is expressed through smiling.

maintains a smile

Focuses on upholding the expression of a smile.

doesn't stop smiling

Implies that there are no intermissions in smiling.

smiles continuously

Stresses the unbroken nature of smiling.

keeps a smile on their face

Highlights the physical act of maintaining a smile.

cheers up constantly

Emphasizes continuous cheering up, related with keep smiling.

stays positive

A more general expression of maintaining an optimistic attitude.

endures with a smile

Highlights the perseverance and endurance involved with smiling.

FAQs

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

"Keeps on smiling" is used to describe someone who continues to smile, often despite facing difficulties. For example: "Even after receiving the bad news, she "keeps on smiling", showing her resilience."

What are some alternatives to "keeps on smiling"?

You can use alternatives like "continues to smile", "remains cheerful", or "maintains a smile" depending on the specific context.

Is "keeps on smiling" grammatically correct?

Yes, "keeps on smiling" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a verb phrase, indicating continuous action.

When is it appropriate to use "keeps on smiling"?

"Keeps on smiling" is appropriate in both informal and neutral contexts, particularly when emphasizing resilience or a consistently positive attitude. However, it might be less suitable for highly formal or academic writing, where more sophisticated language may be preferred.