went on playing

USAGE SUMMARY

"went on playing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone or something continued to play or participate in an activity without stopping. It is often used to describe a situation or activity that lasted for a long time. Example sentence: After the rain stopped, the children went on playing in the puddles, oblivious to the passing time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

He would play every passage slowly on the piano and say, "Now listen to this - is this what you meant?" And of course I would start by defending it, but then one would realise as one - as he went on playing this passage over and over again - that one hadn't really thought enough about it.

The Guardian - Music

The children, three girls and a boy, went on playing with the doll's house.

The New Yorker

Boys went on playing with their Meccano sets during the first Battle of Britain, just as their unconscripted fathers and mothers went blackberrying, and their bachelor uncle persevered with his fishing rod.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, Roy Bogas, Roy Malan, Craig Reiss, Paul Ehrlich and David Kadarauch sit and play Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A, no matter what, looking just like the musicians who went on playing while the Titanic sank.

The New York Times - Arts

But there were also times in his career – and he went on playing until he was almost 40 – when he was criticised variously for not making the best of his gifts, for a lack of team play, and for a woefully disrespectful attitude to officials.

The Guardian - Sport

He went on playing the old new music, with Die Reihe and with the Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra, but he also set about creating some new old music: music that, long before the term "postmodernism" was invented, would not be shy of tonality or of the kinds of texture, form and even melody associated with Mozart, Schubert or Mahler.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

JT went on: "Play the idol tonight, and save yourself.

Huffington Post

Should we go on playing, we wondered.

The New Yorker

But I'll go on playing this new oxymoronic role.

The New York Times - Books

"I couldn't go on playing this way".

The New Yorker

If you go on playing after this stage then you're going to get continuation values.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went on playing" to emphasize the continuation of an action, especially when there might have been a reason to stop. It adds a sense of persistence or normalcy in the face of circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "went on playing" when a simple "played" would suffice. The "went on" adds emphasis to the continuation, so reserve it for situations where that emphasis is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went on playing" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the continuation of an action. It's used to show that an activity, specifically 'playing', persisted over time. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "went on playing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the continuation of a playing activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's a verb phrase that emphasizes persistence and is used neutrally across various contexts, though it's more common in news and media. While there are many alternatives such as "continued to play", the best choice depends on the specific nuance you intend to convey. When using this phrase, ensure that the emphasis on continuation is relevant to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued to play

Replaces "went on" with "continued", providing a more direct synonym for continuing the activity.

kept playing

Uses "kept" instead of "went on", suggesting a persistent continuation of the activity.

carried on playing

A more formal alternative to "went on", suggesting a continuation without interruption.

persisted in playing

Emphasizes the determination to continue playing, even in the face of obstacles.

proceeded to play

Indicates a sequential continuation, implying a transition from one state to another before playing.

resumed playing

Suggests that playing was interrupted but then restarted.

played without stopping

Highlights the continuous nature of playing without any pauses.

played uninterrupted

Focuses on the lack of interruption during the playing activity.

maintained their playing

Implies an effort to keep the activity going at a certain level or quality.

persevered in playing

Similar to persisted, but emphasizes overcoming difficulties to continue playing.

FAQs

How can I use "went on playing" in a sentence?

Use "went on playing" to describe the continuation of a playing activity, particularly when highlighting persistence or resilience. For example, "Despite the rain, the children "went on playing" in the park."

What are some alternatives to "went on playing"?

Alternatives include "continued to play", "kept playing", or "carried on playing". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "went on playing" formal or informal?

"Went on playing" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "continued to play" may be preferred in very formal writing.

What's the difference between "went on playing" and "continued playing"?

While similar, "went on playing" often implies a slight sense of unexpected continuation or resilience, while "continued playing" is a more straightforward statement of ongoing action. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate phrase.