kept on growing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept on growing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous increase or expansion over time. Example: "The company's profits kept on growing despite the economic downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

And the pie just kept on growing.

The New Yorker

Middlebrook started big, and has kept on growing.

The Guardian

Jamaica is the only English-speaking Caribbean island where tourist numbers have kept on growing.

The Economist

And so the legions of "new poor" have kept on growing.

The Guardian

That figure kept on growing until it reached nearly three thousand.

The New Yorker

Strip malls were an inevitable extension of the growth of suburbia in the 1950s and '60s, and for years they just kept on growing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Likewise, because of how the aggregation process is defined, the average weight necessarily keeps on growing as well.

EPJ Data Science

But other data suggests that Twitter's audience keeps on growing.

TechCrunch

Mutual trade between Israel and South Africa amounts to about one billion dollars and keeps on growing.

Huffington Post

Nanomaterial synthesis is one of the promising fields which keeps on growing radically and many synthesis routes have been devised to achieve nanoscale materials.

International Nano Letters

If you haven't detected a regular split in a long time, then one end of the split just keeps on growing.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept on growing" to emphasize the continuous and often surprising nature of growth over a period. For example, "Despite the challenges, the company's user base kept on growing."

Common error

Avoid switching tenses mid-sentence when using "kept on growing". Ensure the surrounding sentences maintain the same tense to maintain clarity and flow. For example, instead of "The business started small, but then it keeps on growing", use "The business started small, but then it kept on growing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept on growing" functions as a verb phrase indicating continuous or repeated action in the past. Ludwig examples show it describing sustained increases or expansions, aligning with its grammatical role as a dynamic descriptor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

16%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept on growing" is a versatile phrasal verb indicating sustained growth or expansion over time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various domains, especially in news and media. While interchangeable with synonyms like "continued to grow", its specific connotation emphasizes persistence and uninterrupted development. When writing, ensure tense consistency and avoid overuse for a more impactful message. With a high expert rating and frequent presence in authoritative sources, "kept on growing" remains a reliable and effective way to convey continuous growth in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued to grow

A more straightforward synonym, emphasizing the ongoing nature of growth.

persisted in growing

Highlights the sustained effort or resilience in the growth process.

continued to expand

Focuses on the aspect of increasing in size or scope.

expanded continuously

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the expansion.

steadily increased

Indicates a gradual and consistent rise.

progressed consistently

Highlights the forward movement and uniformity of the progression.

developed incrementally

Focuses on the gradual and step-by-step nature of development.

never stopped growing

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of growth.

maintained its growth

Highlights the preservation of an existing growth trajectory.

flourished continuously

Suggests a thriving and uninterrupted growth.

FAQs

How can I use "kept on growing" in a sentence?

Use "kept on growing" to describe a continuous increase or expansion. For example, "The city's population "kept on growing" despite the economic downturn."

What's a synonym for "kept on growing"?

Alternatives include "continued to grow", "persisted in growing", or "steadily increased", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "kept on growing"?

While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "expanded continuously" or "developed incrementally" for a more engaging tone.

What is the difference between "kept on growing" and "keeps on growing"?

"Kept on growing" refers to growth that occurred in the past, while "keeps on growing" indicates growth that is currently happening or expected to continue. For example, "The plant "kept on growing" last summer," versus, "The plant "keeps on growing" with proper care."