Quirks of English

--for those who speak English as their second language or who just want to improve their writing

(Illustrated version of Quirks of English)

Continual or Continuous

Continual means proceeding seemingly without interruption; an action frequently or closely repeated with little or no time between. The use of continual is restricted "to what occurs regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series." Continual denotes "a close and unbroken succession of things, rather than absolute continuity, but it implies repetition with occasional interruptions."¹

• In the Rockies, the snow is continual in December.
• Figure skating requires continual practice.
• Our website is active; expect continual changes, updates, and improvements.
• My toddler continually interrupted me while I was talking to my neighbor.

Continuous means "proceeding in space or time without interruption; unceasing, constant, protracted; extending without irregularity."¹ The use of continuous "denotes that the continuity or union of parts is absolute and uninterrupted."¹

• This software enables users to create and play continuous-loop animations.
• Continuous irradiation of the diamond CVD films by an electron beam results in the desorption of hydrogen from the surface and in the decrease in the SEE yield.
• The Wren Building at William and Mary University is the oldest academic structure in America in continuous classroom use.
• Some software offers continuous speech recognition over the telephone.

¹From Hypertext Webster Gateway: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) and WordNet 1.6.

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