Cool MateContinue vs Follow this one up with
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Continue
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Follow this one up with
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Continue
| Continue | Follow this one up with | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈfɒləʊ ðɪs wʌn ʌp wɪð//🇺🇸 //ˈfɑloʊ ðɪs wʌn ʌp wɪð// |
| Meaning | To keep doing something without stopping. | Do something after this one. |
| Example | Please continue with your presentation after the break. | Make sure to follow this one up with a report. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | continue doing, continue with, continue on, continue to speak, continue until | follow up with an email, follow up with a phone call, follow this up with a meeting |
| Antonyms | stop, cease, halt | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Continue' followed by a noun instead of a gerund (e.g., 'continue the project' instead of 'continue doing the project'), Confusing 'continue' with 'resume' — 'resume' implies starting again after a pause, Using 'continue to' followed by an adjective (incorrect) instead of a verb (correct) | Confusing 'follow up' with 'follow down'., Omitting 'with' in the phrase., Using 'follow' without specifying what to follow up with. |
| Usage notes | Use 'continue' when talking about ongoing actions or processes. It's neutral, so it's appropriate in most contexts, but can sound too formal in casual conversations. Avoid using in contexts where you're suggesting to start something new. | Used in professional or casual contexts to indicate a subsequent action; less common in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Continue vs Follow this one up with
What's the difference between Continue and Follow this one up with?
Continue: To keep doing something without stopping. Follow this one up with: Do something after this one.
Which is more common: Continue and Follow this one up with?
Continue is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Continue: Please continue with your presentation after the break. Follow this one up with: Make sure to follow this one up with a report.
Can I use Continue and Follow this one up with interchangeably?
Not always. Continue and Follow this one up with are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.