Continually vs Continuously | Difference & Examples
The adverbs continually and continuously are often used interchangeably, but many style guides recommend using them with distinct meanings for clarity.
Continually means “repeatedly and often” but continuously means “without interruption.”
| Continually in a sentence examples | Continuously in a sentence examples |
|---|---|
| Lightly simmer the mixture for about an hour, checking continually to make sure that it is not boiling too vigorously. | Stir the mixture continuously for at least a minute to avoid lumps. |
| If the error occurs continually over an extended period, please contact customer service. | If the error tone stops after 30 seconds, try resetting the system. If it sounds continuously, call customer service. |
In everyday language, the two words are often used interchangeably to describe events as being persistent over an uninterrupted period of time, even if the events in question are repeated rather than a single uninterrupted event (e.g., “He’s been calling me continually/continuously all day!”).
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Continually meaning
Continually is the adverb form of the adjective “continual”.
If something happens “continually,” it happens “repeatedly and regularly.”
The situation was changing continually.
Please stop continually interrupting me!
- He was emailing me repeatedly throughout the day. [Sentence makes sense, so “continually” is correct]
- The electric fan was running repeatedly throughout the night. [Sentence doesn’t make sense if you mean the fan wasn’t switched off all night, so “continuously” is probably the word you were looking for]
Alternatively, you can use the QuillBot Paraphraser to find synonyms that reflect your meaning.
Continuously meaning
Continuously is the adverb form of the adjective “continuous.”
If something happens “continuously,” it happens “without stopping.”
Do not use the mixer continuously for more than ten minutes.
The factory’s operations run continuously, so there are shifts on the weekend.
