look set to continue

USAGE SUMMARY

"look set to continue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when referring to something that appears likely to last for some time. The economic recovery looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The stormy divisions look set to continue.

The Economist

Five Palestinians were killed by army fire and 30 wounded.The protests look set to continue.

The Economist

Nevertheless, nanotech and clothing look set to continue to thrive together.

The Guardian

"Fortunately, these trends look set to continue for some time to come.

The Guardian - Business

Low interests look set to continue even after QE is cut back, according to the minutes.

The Guardian - Business

Skirmishes broke out over the summer and look set to continue.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

That looks set to continue.

The Economist

The boom looks set to continue.

The Economist

And the confusion looks set to continue.

The Economist

Yet the craze looks set to continue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

• The Hannibal franchise looks set to continue.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "look set to continue", ensure that the subject you're referring to is already in motion or has established momentum. This helps reinforce the idea that the continuation is a natural progression of existing circumstances.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "look set to continue" with a future action that hasn't started yet. It's best suited for situations already in progress. For instance, instead of saying "The project looks set to continue next year," which implies it hasn't begun, it's more appropriate to say, "Since the project's initial success, it "appears likely to continue" next year."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look set to continue" functions as a modal expression indicating a strong likelihood or expectation that a particular situation, trend, or activity will persist. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase correctly suggests an ongoing state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look set to continue" is a common phrase used to express a strong likelihood of something ongoing based on current trends. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. It's frequently found in news and business contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. While versatile, remember to use it for situations already in progress. For alternatives, you might consider "appear likely to persist", "are poised to endure", or similar phrases, depending on the context and desired level of formality. Remember to use more formal alternative sentences in academic or scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appear likely to persist

Replaces "look set" with "appear likely" and "continue" with "persist", slightly more formal.

are poised to endure

Substitutes "look set" with "are poised" and "continue" with "endure", providing a more emphatic tone.

seem destined to go on

Replaces "look set" with "seem destined" and "continue" with "go on", adding a sense of inevitability.

are expected to carry on

Uses "are expected" in place of "look set" and "carry on" instead of "continue", offering a more casual alternative.

promise to proceed

Replaces "look set" with "promise" to proceed and "continue", suggesting a guaranteed progression.

foreseeably will last

Changes the structure to emphasize the duration, using "foreseeably will last" instead of "look set to continue".

are anticipated to extend

Replaces "look set" with "are anticipated" and "continue" with "extend", suitable for formal contexts.

it is predicted to prolong

Shifts the focus to prediction and uses "prolong" in place of "continue", giving it a more technical feel.

the trend is expected to hold

Focuses on the trend and suggests it will "hold", instead of using "look set to continue"

will likely keep up

Uses more informal language, replacing with "will likely keep up" instead of "look set to continue"

FAQs

How can I use "look set to continue" in a sentence?

Use "look set to continue" to express that something is likely to persist or proceed as it is. For example, "Given the current economic climate, high inflation "appears likely to persist"."

What are some alternatives to "look set to continue"?

You can use alternatives such as "appear likely to persist", "are poised to endure", or "seem destined to go on" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "look set to continue" in formal writing?

Yes, "look set to continue" is suitable for formal writing, especially in news articles and reports. However, in very academic or scientific contexts, more formal alternatives like "are anticipated to extend" may be preferred.

What's the difference between "look set to continue" and "seem likely to continue"?

"Look set to continue" implies a slightly stronger degree of certainty based on current observations, whereas "seem likely to continue" suggests a possibility based on general impressions. The former indicates a more concrete basis for the expectation.