kept smoking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept smoking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who continues to smoke despite circumstances or previous intentions to stop. Example: "Even after his doctor advised him to quit, he kept smoking every day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

During pregnancy, 19 did not smoke (83%), whereas only four kept smoking (17%).

Clinical Science

"Women kept smoking it.

The New York Times

His son kept smoking, his exhale threading thinly through the air before breaking apart.

The New Yorker

Despite this, an unteachable cadre of resolutes, including me, kept smoking anyway.

The New Yorker

What she seemed to believe was that at some point she would have a peaceful, easy death, but that if she kept smoking, it would simply come a decade sooner.

The New York Times - Health

The author of the study (published in August in The American Journal of Medicine), Pamela L. Moore, said many of the doctors felt unable to help smokers quit, and believed that as long as patients kept smoking, treatments for lung disease would be for nought.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

How could he keep smoking after all this?

The New Yorker

"There's no shooting, we just make you keep smoking".

The New Yorker

If they keep smoking their partners probably will, too.One promising approach is paying women to quit.

The Economist

Women are invited to "upload a pic to the Future You Smoking Booth and see how old and horrible you could look if you keep smoking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The basis for the lawsuit was the claim that Philip Morris's strategy of denying the connection between smoking and cancer deceived Mr. Williams into believing that he could safely keep smoking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept smoking" to describe a continued action, especially when there's an expectation or suggestion to stop. It implies a conscious decision or inability to quit.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence when using "kept smoking". Ensure the surrounding context maintains a consistent past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept smoking" functions as a verb phrase indicating the continuation of an action. It uses the past tense of "keep" followed by a gerund. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes an ongoing activity despite potential reasons to stop.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept smoking" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase to indicate the continuation of the act of smoking, often despite reasons to quit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English and appears across various contexts including News & Media and Science. While its register is generally neutral leaning towards informal, more formal alternatives such as "continued smoking" may be preferred in academic settings. It's important to maintain consistent tense and be mindful of the implied persistence when using this phrase. Overall, it effectively describes a sustained past action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued smoking

A more formal and direct way of expressing the same action.

was still smoking

Highlights the unchanged status of smoking.

carried on smoking

Similar to "continued smoking", but with a slightly more casual tone.

persisted in smoking

Highlights the determination or stubbornness in continuing to smoke.

didn't stop smoking

Focuses on the lack of cessation rather than the continuation.

never quit smoking

Emphasizes that smoking has not been abandoned at any point.

remained a smoker

Emphasizes the ongoing state of being a smoker.

maintained the habit of smoking

Focuses on the habitual aspect of smoking.

refused to quit smoking

Highlights the unwillingness to stop smoking.

sustained smoking

Implies a continued effort or maintenance of the act of smoking.

FAQs

What does "kept smoking" mean?

"Kept smoking" means to continue the act of smoking, often implying a persistence despite reasons or suggestions to quit. It suggests an ongoing action in the past.

What can I say instead of "kept smoking"?

You can use alternatives like "continued smoking", "persisted in smoking", or "carried on smoking" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "kept smoking"?

Yes, "kept smoking" is grammatically correct. "Kept" is the past tense of "keep", and "smoking" is a gerund, functioning as a noun in this phrase, indicating the activity being continued.

How to use "kept smoking" in a sentence?

You can use "kept smoking" to describe someone's continued habit: "Even after the doctor's warning, he "kept smoking"."