kept increasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept increasing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a quantity or value was continually increasing over time. For example: "The sales figures kept increasing throughout the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Just kept increasing".

The Guardian

He kept increasing the 400-meter repetitions.

The New York Times - Sports

"But the pressure and harassment to sign off kept increasing".

The New York Times

He kept increasing, if you look at the fractions.

The New York Times - Sports

In that time the population has kept increasing.

The Guardian

The special sessions kept coming, and executive — which is to say Long's — power kept increasing.

The New Yorker

We kept increasing the price, and they kept agreeing to pay it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Companies kept increasing pay and hours last month, for example, but did little new hiring.

The New York Times

The cost for medication kept increasing, and the Bioness cost nearly $6,000.

The New York Times

In Kyoto in 1997, leaders promised even stricter reductions by 2010, yet emissions have kept increasing unabated.

The New York Times

But in March this year mortality just kept increasing and by the end of the month huge numbers were dead.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "kept increasing", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is increasing and over what period. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "kept increasing" without a clear subject or measurable quantity. For example, instead of "Things kept increasing", specify what exactly was increasing, like "Sales figures kept increasing" or "The demand kept increasing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept increasing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past. It describes how something was in a constant state of growth or escalation over a period. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use across various fields.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kept increasing" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb phrase to describe a continuous upward trend. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts, particularly in science and news media. While alternatives like "continued to rise" and "steadily grew" exist, "kept increasing" effectively conveys the sustained nature of the increase. When using the phrase, ensure the subject is clear to avoid vagueness. This phrase is suitable for neutral registers and can be adapted for various communication purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued to rise

Focuses on the action of rising rather than continuous maintenance of the increasing trend.

steadily grew

Implies a gradual and consistent increase over time.

progressively escalated

Highlights a step-by-step increase, often in intensity or severity.

persistently climbed

Emphasizes the ongoing and unwavering nature of the increase.

maintained an upward trend

Focuses on the overall direction of the movement, maintaining an upward inclination.

expanded continuously

Suggests an increase in size or scope, rather than just a numerical value.

consistently augmented

Highlights a steady increase through additions or enhancements.

ramped up

Informal term suggesting a rapid and significant increase.

mounted steadily

Suggests a gradual and sustained accumulation of something.

upped incrementally

Implies small, regular increases over time.

FAQs

How can I use "kept increasing" in a sentence?

Use "kept increasing" to describe a continuous rise or growth in something over time. For example, "The company's profits "kept increasing" year after year."

What are some alternatives to "kept increasing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "continued to rise", "steadily grew", or "progressively escalated".

Is it correct to say "keeps increasing" instead of "kept increasing"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different time frames. "Keeps increasing" describes a present or ongoing trend, while "kept increasing" describes a trend that occurred in the past.

What's the difference between "kept increasing" and "increased steadily"?

"Kept increasing" emphasizes the continuous nature of the increase. "Increased steadily" ("increased steadily") focuses more on the consistent and gradual rate of increase without necessarily highlighting its uninterrupted progression.