continuous

Continuous(ly) and continual(ly) 

These two words have similar meanings and are often used interchangeably,  but there is a difference. 

continuous means unbroken, uninterrupted, non-stop

a continuous line

continuous play of music or a film

in continuous use

in a continuous movement

cameras in taxis will run continuously

a feeling of being continuously under surveillance

continual means often repeated

continual disruption

she continually asked for money

Sometimes the distinction is blurred.

continual improvement or continuous improvement?

Test yourself

1. the film played in a ………… loop
2. he …………ly failed his driving test
3. the castle has been …………ly occupied for 4 centuries
4. we can see a ………… improvement

 

Answers: paste them into FLIP

 ʇuǝɯǝʌoɹdɯı snonuıʇuoɔ ɐ ǝǝs uɐɔ ǝʍ 4
sǝıɹnʇuǝɔ 4 ɹoɟ pǝıdnɔɔo ʎlsnonuıʇuoɔ uǝǝq sɐɥ ǝlʇsɐɔ ǝɥʇ 3
ʇsǝʇ ƃuıʌıɹp sıɥ pǝlıɐɟ ʎllɐnuıʇuoɔ ǝɥ 2
dool snonuıʇuoɔ ɐ uı pǝʎɐld ɯlıɟ ǝɥʇ 1