unable to continue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unable to continue" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone is not able to continue doing something due to a certain reason or obstacle. Example: "Due to the heavy rain, we were unable to continue our hike and had to turn back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But I was unable to continue writing.

The Guardian - Books

He stopped, unable to continue talking.

The New York Times

Waltrip, however, was unable to continue racing.

The New York Times - Sports

I was unable to continue working.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unable to continue alone, he checked into a clinic.

The Economist

If it lost, West would be unable to continue spades.

The New York Times - Arts

He was unable to continue during a full-court scrimmage.

The New York Times - Sports

This has resulted in the business being unable to continue to operate outside of administration".

Independent

Although unable to continue with hardware development, Zuse made a number of advances in software design.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One result can be heat exhaustion — the person may collapse, unable to continue exercising.

The New York Times - Health

He started to say something else, but he was unable to continue.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unable to continue", clearly state the reason for the inability to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "Due to the injury, he was "unable to continue" the race."

Common error

Avoid using "unable to continue" without explaining why. This can leave the reader confused about the cause of the interruption. Provide a clear explanation for the lack of continuation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to continue" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied subject, expressing the subject's incapacity to proceed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unable to continue" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that denotes an inability to proceed with an action. Ludwig AI supports this assessment with numerous examples from diverse sources such as News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. It is essential to provide context explaining the reason for this inability. While alternative phrases like "incapable of proceeding" or "prevented from continuing" exist, "unable to continue" remains a versatile and widely accepted choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incapable of proceeding

This alternative uses "incapable" which implies a lack of inherent ability, making it a stronger statement of inability.

prevented from continuing

This alternative emphasizes an external force or circumstance that hinders continuation.

forced to stop

This alternative suggests a stronger sense of obligation or external pressure to cease the activity.

could not go on

This alternative is more informal and emphasizes the physical or emotional difficulty of continuing.

had to discontinue

This alternative indicates a formal or official cessation of an activity.

ceased to proceed

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of stopping the continuation.

brought to a standstill

This alternative implies that something caused a full stop to the action.

halted from advancing

This alternative emphasizes the forward motion and its cessation.

stopped in its tracks

This alternative suggests a sudden and unexpected interruption.

suspended from progression

This alternative suggests a temporary cessation with an expectation of resuming later.

FAQs

What does "unable to continue" mean?

The phrase "unable to continue" means that someone or something is incapable of proceeding with an action, task, or journey due to certain limitations or circumstances.

What can I say instead of "unable to continue"?

You can use alternatives like "incapable of proceeding", "prevented from continuing", or "forced to stop" depending on the context.

How to use "unable to continue" in a sentence?

You can use "unable to continue" in a sentence to express an inability to proceed. For example: "The athlete was "unable to continue" the competition due to a leg injury."

What is the difference between "unable to continue" and "refused to continue"?

"Unable to continue" implies a lack of capacity or possibility to proceed, while "refused to continue" indicates a deliberate decision not to proceed.