Contiguous vs. Continuous
Sometimes, all it takes to remember how to use words correctly is a little forethought. There are many words in the English language that look similar and even sound similar, but if we stop for a moment and really consider them, we will likely choose the correct one. Contiguous and continuous are two words that have very different meanings and are only confusing if you don't take the time to think about which you will use. Let's take a look!
Contiguous is an adjective that means adjacent to each other, sharing a side or border.
1. In the United States, there are 48 contiguous states, and Hawaii and Alaska are the other two of the 50 states.
2. The shapes that we need for today's math lesson are arranged in a contiguous pattern.
3. The contiguous panes of colored glass in the window make a beautiful mural.
Continuous is an adjective that describes something that is never-ending, unbroken, or uninterrupted.
1. The continuous dripping of the water faucet was enough to drive me crazy.
2. The brother and sister engaged in a continuous game of hide and go seek for the entire afternoon.
3. The continuous line of people outside of the concert wound around the building.
Notice the marked difference in the meanings of these two words. One-contiguous-describes items that are adjacent to each other. The other, continuous, means never-ending. These words are very different, but their spellings and pronunciations are so similar that they are easily confused. So, take a little time to think about what you mean, and you can easily choose the correct word!
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