kept putting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept putting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a repeated action of placing or setting something down over a period of time. Example: "She kept putting off her homework until the last minute, which caused her a lot of stress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I kept putting them off.

The New Yorker

I kept putting the moment off.

The Guardian

He kept putting in his own nickels.

The New York Times - Sports

I just kept putting her under pressure".

The Guardian - Sport

We kept putting Philip Glass back on.

The Guardian - Film

"I kept putting us in a hole.

The New York Times - Sports

"She kept putting pressure on me," Tatishvili said.

The New York Times

"I just kept putting money in my pocket".

The New York Times

The company also kept putting its money on crippled horses.

The New Yorker

"We kept putting ourselves in pretty good situations," Damon said.

The New York Times

They kept putting you in third and long.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept putting" to clearly convey a repeated action or a continued delay. For example, "He kept putting off his doctor's appointment, which led to complications."

Common error

Avoid using "kept putting" when a single, decisive action is more appropriate. Instead of "He kept putting the money in the bank", consider "He deposited the money in the bank".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept putting" functions as a compound verb phrase indicating a repeated or continuous action in the past. Ludwig examples show it used to describe continuously placing objects, exerting pressure, or postponing tasks. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kept putting" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe repeated actions or the continuation of a state, predominantly found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While widely used, it's important to consider the context to ensure the intended meaning is clearly conveyed, and to avoid overuse when a more concise verb would suffice. When writing, remember that "kept putting" emphasizes repetition or persistence over a period, making it suitable for describing ongoing efforts or repeated delays.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued placing

Focuses on the continuation of the action of placing.

persisted in setting

Emphasizes the persistence in the action of setting something down.

repeatedly positioned

Highlights the repetition of positioning something.

maintained placing

Indicates the maintaining of a placing action.

always setting

Highlights the habit of setting something down.

invariably positioning

Indicates that positioning is done by default

held off on

Highlights delaying some action.

delayed acting on

Emphasizes the delay in acting upon something.

postponed action

Focuses on the postponement of an action.

procrastinated with

Highlights procrastination towards something.

FAQs

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

You can use "kept putting" to describe a repeated action, such as "She "kept putting off" her chores" or "He "kept putting pressure" on the team to perform better".

What can I say instead of "kept putting"?

Alternatives include "continued placing", "persisted in setting", or depending on the specific context, "held off on" or "delayed acting on".

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

While "kept putting" refers to a past, repeated action, "keeps putting" indicates a present, ongoing, or habitual action. Both are correct, but the tense depends on the timeframe you're describing.

What is the difference between "kept putting off" and "kept delaying"?

"Kept putting off" implies postponing something, while "kept delaying" is a more general term for prolonging or slowing down an action or event. "Kept putting off" is specifically about delaying something intended to be done.