kept coming up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept coming up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a recurring issue, topic, or event that continues to arise or be mentioned over time. Example: "During the meeting, the issue of budget cuts kept coming up, indicating it was a major concern for everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Leukemia kept coming up.

The New Yorker

One that kept coming up?

University of California, Berkeley

— kept coming up.

The New Yorker

But the video kept coming up anyway.

The New York Times

The results kept coming up clean.

The New York Times - Science

The same problem kept coming up.

The New York Times

Everything kept coming up green.

Harvard Business Review

To their surprise, cooking kept coming up.

Princeton University

"And it kept coming up," McFadden said.

The Washington Post

One name kept coming up in my research: Garren.

The New York Times

'Magical' was a word that kept coming up.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept coming up" to clearly indicate that a topic, issue, or idea was mentioned or observed repeatedly. It effectively conveys recurrence and can highlight its importance.

Common error

While "kept coming up" is widely understood, consider more formal alternatives like "frequently emerged" or "recurrently appeared" in academic or professional contexts for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept coming up" functions as a verbal phrase indicating recurrence or repeated appearance. It is used to describe something that is mentioned, discussed, or observed multiple times. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

13%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept coming up" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to indicate that a topic, issue, or idea was repeatedly mentioned or observed. It is versatile enough for use in news, academic settings, and even informal conversation, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain professional contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide usability. When writing, remember that while the meaning is clear and easily understood, tailoring the phrase to your audience and the level of formality will improve overall impact. Considering alternatives like "repeatedly surfaced" or "frequently emerged" may enhance clarity and sophistication in more formal pieces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept recurring

A more direct synonym, emphasizing the repeated occurrence.

kept resurfacing

Similar to "kept recurring", but with an added sense of something being hidden and then reappearing.

repeatedly surfaced

Emphasizes the recurring nature of the subject, suggesting it appeared multiple times.

continually arose

Highlights the consistent emergence of an issue or topic.

frequently emerged

Focuses on the regularity with which something became apparent.

persistently recurred

Stresses the unwavering return of a specific element or problem.

recurrently appeared

Indicates a pattern of reappearance.

was a recurring theme

Highlights that something was a consistent topic or idea.

was a common refrain

Indicates the idea, subject, or expression was often heard or repeated.

featured prominently

Focuses on the importance and visibility of something in a discussion or text.

FAQs

How can I use "kept coming up" in a sentence?

Use "kept coming up" to describe a topic, issue, or idea that was mentioned or arose repeatedly. For example, "During the meeting, the issue of budget cuts "kept coming up"".

What are some alternatives to "kept coming up"?

Alternatives include "repeatedly surfaced", "continually arose", or "frequently emerged", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "kept coming up" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "kept coming up" may be considered informal for certain academic or professional contexts. In such cases, consider alternatives like "recurrently appeared" or "persistently recurred".

What does it mean when something "keeps coming up"?

It signifies that a particular subject, problem, or theme is repeatedly brought up or occurs frequently, often implying its significance or persistence.