Cool MateContinue vs Keep it going
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Continue
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Keep it going
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Continue
| Continue | Keep it going | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kiːp ɪt ˈɡəʊɪŋ//🇺🇸 //kip ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ// |
| Meaning | To keep doing something without stopping. | Continue doing something without stopping. |
| Example | Please continue with your presentation after the break. | Even when times are tough, we must keep it going. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | continue doing, continue with, continue on, continue to speak, continue until | keep it going strong, keep it going well, keep it going forward |
| Antonyms | stop, cease, halt | 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) | Using 'keep it going' to mean 'start something'., Incorrectly conjugating verbs after 'keep it going'., Confusing with 'keep going' which implies continuous action. |
| 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. | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in casual and semi-formal situations, but may feel too informal in very formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Continue vs Keep it going
What's the difference between Continue and Keep it going?
Continue: To keep doing something without stopping. Keep it going: Continue doing something without stopping.
Which is more common: Continue and Keep it going?
Continue is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Continue: Please continue with your presentation after the break. Keep it going: Even when times are tough, we must keep it going.
Can I use Continue and Keep it going interchangeably?
Not always. Continue and Keep it going 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.