kept on telling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept on telling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone repeatedly informs or communicates something over a period of time. Example: "She kept on telling him to be careful, but he never listened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

We kept on telling people (in the community) to rock up at times of emergency and good luck, or ring the crisis team.

BMC Public Health

I kept on telling Coach that.

The New York Times - Sports

"He kept on telling me to eat more".

The New York Times

"I kept on telling people, 'Remember your history in World War II?

The New Yorker

All he could do, he kept on telling himself, was paint what he saw.

The Guardian - Books

But it kept on telling me to turn right... Come on, I expected a better laugh than that.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"Keep on telling".

The New York Times - Style

"I keep on telling him he had to reduce the price".

The New York Times

A story that keeps on telling itself is a win of a kind too.

The New York Times

Richie is infuriated by his tightass boss, played by Louis CK, who keeps on telling him a homely anecdote about his childhood ice-fishing trips; Richie petulantly interrupts these when he thinks he understands the moral.

The Guardian - Film

Richie is infuriated by his tightass boss Stoddard Thorsen, played by Louis CK, who is reluctant to use official funds for his crazy entrapment schemes and keeps on telling him a homely anecdote about his childhood ice fishing, which Richie keeps petulantly interrupting when he thinks he understands the moral.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept on telling" to emphasize the repetitive nature of the communication. This is particularly effective when highlighting persistence or insistence in a narrative or argument.

Common error

While "kept on telling" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound informal or redundant. In formal contexts, consider stronger verbs like "reiterated", "asserted", or "maintained" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept on telling" functions as a verbal phrase indicating repeated communication. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It describes the act of someone continually informing or reminding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept on telling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verbal phrase that signifies repeated communication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for describing continuous action of informing or reminding. While mainly used in news, media, scientific and general contexts, formal settings may require a stronger vocabulary to avoid repetition. To improve your writing, remember to use this phrase to emphasize repetitive communication, and consider stronger alternatives in formal writing to avoid sounding too informal or redundant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept repeating

Similar to the original phrase, but with a slightly different emphasis on the action of repeating.

repeatedly stated

Emphasizes the act of saying something multiple times.

continuously asserted

Highlights the persistent declaration of a fact or belief.

persisted in saying

Focuses on the unwavering nature of the statement.

stressed repeatedly

Highlights the emphasis placed on the repeated message.

insistently communicated

Stresses the forceful and determined communication.

reiterated constantly

Implies a frequent and methodical repetition of the information.

maintained that

Focuses on the consistent upholding of a particular viewpoint.

constantly reminded

Implies a frequent prompting or bringing to someone's attention.

would always say

Indicates a habitual or characteristic statement.

FAQs

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

You can use "kept on telling" to show that someone repeatedly said something. For example, "She "kept on telling" him to be careful, but he never listened".

What's a good alternative to "kept on telling"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "repeatedly stated", "continuously asserted", or "persisted in saying".

Is "keeps on telling" or "kept on telling" more appropriate?

"Keeps on telling" is present tense, while "kept on telling" is past tense. Use "keeps on telling" for ongoing actions and "kept on telling" for actions that occurred in the past.

What's the difference between "kept on telling" and "kept telling"?

"Kept on telling" emphasizes the continuous and repetitive nature of the action, while "kept telling" simply indicates repeated telling without the same level of emphasis on the continuity.