Cool MatePersist vs We keep on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Persist
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
We keep on
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Persist
| Persist | We keep on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //pəˈsɪst//🇺🇸 //pərˈsɪst// | 🇬🇧 //wiː kiːp ɒn//🇺🇸 //wi kiːp ɑn// |
| Meaning | To keep trying despite difficulties or obstacles. | We continue to do something. |
| Example | Despite numerous setbacks, she decided to persist with her research project. | We keep on trying, no matter how hard it gets. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | persist in doing something, persist with a plan, persist through challenges | keep on trying, keep on asking, keep on going, keep on working, keep on singing |
| Antonyms | give up, quit, yield | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'insist' - both imply persistence but have different uses., Incorrect verb form - it's 'persisted' for past tense, not 'persisted' for plural subjects., Omitting subject pronoun is common in informal speech. | Using 'keep on' without 'we' or another subject., Incorrect verb form after 'keep on'., Confusing 'keep on' with 'continue'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'persist' when you want to express determination to continue with an action. It can apply to personal efforts, research, or legislative processes. Avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler words like 'hang on' might be more appropriate. | Used to indicate persistence in an action. Suitable for both written and spoken contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Persist vs We keep on
What's the difference between Persist and We keep on?
Persist: To keep trying despite difficulties or obstacles. We keep on: We continue to do something.
Which is more common: Persist and We keep on?
Persist is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Persist: Despite numerous setbacks, she decided to persist with her research project. We keep on: We keep on trying, no matter how hard it gets.
Can I use Persist and We keep on interchangeably?
Not always. Persist and We keep on 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.