kept piling up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept piling up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where things are accumulating or increasing over time, often in a negative context. Example: "As the deadlines approached, the tasks kept piling up, making it difficult to manage my time effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Elsewhere, the zombies kept piling up.

The New York Times

The miracles kept piling up.

The Guardian - Books

But the borrowings just kept piling up.

The New York Times - Arts

But the commendation awards kept piling up.

The Guardian

Hours billed kept piling up, but collections stalled.

The New Yorker

Home victories kept piling up and ranked teams kept falling.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the legal fees keep piling up.

The New York Times

The bodies just keep piling up.

The New Yorker

Terms for larger sizes keep piling up.

The New Yorker

The losses keep piling up.

The New York Times

These days, the issues keep piling up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept piling up" to describe situations where there's a continuous increase or accumulation of something, often with negative or overwhelming connotations. It's effective when emphasizing the ongoing nature of the accumulation.

Common error

While "kept piling up" is versatile, avoid using it excessively in overly casual settings. Opt for more informal alternatives like "kept adding up" or "just kept coming" to maintain a natural tone in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept piling up" functions as a compound verb, indicating a continuous action in the past. It describes how something progressively increased or accumulated over time. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, like accumulating losses or tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kept piling up" is a versatile phrase used to describe a continuous accumulation or increase, often with negative implications. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It’s particularly common in news and media contexts, where it effectively conveys a sense of growing issues or quantities. When writing, remember to use it to emphasize the ongoing nature of an accumulation, but avoid overuse in overly casual situations. Consider alternatives like "continued accumulating" or "steadily increased" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept on accumulating

This alternative adds emphasis on the continuous nature of the action.

continued accumulating

Focuses on the continuous nature of the accumulation, emphasizing a steady increase.

accumulated continuously

Stresses the uninterrupted nature of the accumulation, highlighting a constant and ongoing process.

persistently accumulated

Highlights the persistence of the accumulation, suggesting a determined or ongoing process.

accumulated rapidly

This alternative focuses on the speed of the accumulation.

steadily increased

Emphasizes the stability and regularity of the increase, implying a gradual but consistent growth.

progressively increased

Emphasizes the gradual and incremental nature of the increase, suggesting a step-by-step growth.

mounted relentlessly

Conveys a sense of intensity and inevitability in the accumulation, suggesting a forceful or unstoppable increase.

built up steadily

Implies a gradual and solid accumulation, like constructing something piece by piece.

kept amassing

Suggests a large quantity is being gathered, often with the implication of wealth or resources.

FAQs

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

You can use "kept piling up" to describe a situation where something is continuously accumulating or increasing. For example: "As the deadline approached, the tasks "kept piling up"." or "The losses "kept piling up" despite efforts to mitigate them."

What are some alternatives to "kept piling up"?

Alternatives include "continued accumulating", "steadily increased", or "kept accumulating", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "keeps piling up" and "kept piling up"?

"Keeps piling up" implies a present and ongoing accumulation, while "kept piling up" refers to an accumulation that occurred in the past. For example, "The work keeps piling up" suggests the accumulation is happening now, whereas "The work kept piling up" suggests it happened in the past.

When is it appropriate to use "kept piling up"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the continuous and often overwhelming nature of something accumulating over time. It works well in both formal and informal contexts to describe a growing quantity of tasks, problems, or other items.