kept on walking

USAGE SUMMARY

"kept on walking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone continued walking despite some difficulty or obstacle. For example, "The hikers were tired, but they kept on walking to reach the top of the mountain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Mr. Commey simply walked up to the metal detector and X-ray machine at Gate 33 and kept on walking, the police said.

The New York Times

And we just sort of kept on walking like it hadn't happened.

Huffington Post

Bernard Fall recorded in Street Without Joy: "he was only twenty-five years old, but he looked fifty; he kept on walking like an automaton to the centre of the post before he was stopped by some of the men staring at him as at a ghost".

Wikipedia

"I was exhausted and wanted to sit down but my mother kept on walking and forced us to walk," she said.

Unicef

On Saturday one passerby yelled, "Whoopsie," and kept on walking.

The New York Times - Arts

She looked quizzical, and kept on walking.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

I keep on walking, thinking about that.

The New Yorker

Walking Ms. Collins down the aisle, he said he had whispered to her, "Keep on walking".

The New York Times

Todd?" We keep on walking, staying clear of the river on our left.

The Guardian - Books

At the door I push ahead and keep on walking, turning back to look.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The protagonist keeps on walking — "strange person probably condemned to mourn forever the inexplicable Penultimate".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept on walking" to convey the idea of continuous movement, especially when facing distractions or difficulties. For example, "Despite the pouring rain, she kept on walking to reach her destination."

Common error

Avoid using "keep on walked". The correct form uses the past tense of "keep" and the present participle of "walk": "kept on walking".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "kept on walking" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the continuation of the action of walking. Ludwig examples showcase its use to describe persistence or ongoing movement despite circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kept on walking" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the act of continuing to walk, often implying persistence or resilience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for use in a wide range of writing. Its most frequent context is News & Media. When seeking alternatives, consider "continued walking" or "persisted in walking". Remember to use the correct tense (past) and avoid common errors like "keep on walked".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued walking

Emphasizes the unbroken continuation of the act of walking.

persisted in walking

Highlights the determination and effort involved in continuing to walk, suggesting resistance or difficulty.

maintained pace

Focuses on keeping a consistent speed while walking, possibly in a race or challenging situation.

advanced steadily

Suggests gradual and consistent progress forward while walking.

pressed onward

Implies a strong resolve to continue moving forward, often despite hardship or discouragement.

walked relentlessly

Highlights the unwavering and persistent nature of the walking, without giving up.

moved ahead

Simply indicates forward movement while walking, especially when other options are to stop or stay behind.

strode forward

Suggests a confident and purposeful manner of walking ahead.

persevered on foot

Similar to 'persisted in walking', but specifically emphasizes the act of walking as the mode of transportation and continuing despite challenges.

never stopped walking

Emphasizes the fact that walking continued without any stop.

FAQs

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

"Kept on walking" indicates continuing to walk, often despite an obstacle or distraction. For instance, "Even though he was tired, he "kept on walking"."

What are some alternatives to "kept on walking"?

Alternatives include "continued walking", "persisted in walking", or "pressed onward", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of continuous movement.

Is it correct to say "keep on walked" instead of "kept on walking"?

No, "keep on walked" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""kept on walking"", using the past tense of "keep" and the present participle of "walk".

What's the difference between "kept on walking" and "continued to walk"?

"Kept on walking" implies a sense of persistence or overcoming something, while "continued to walk" simply means the action of walking was not interrupted. Therefore, "kept on walking" expresses more emphasis on resilience, while continued to walk is a more neutral observation.