Continually vs. Continuously
Do you feel like you are continually making mistakes in how you use words to say what you mean? With so many words that have similar meanings in the English language, it is little wonder that we all make mistakes! Most of the time-as is the case with continually and continuously-the mistakes are slight and meaning is not obscured. But, it is nice to recognize the shades of meaning between similar words and attempt to use them correctly when we can.
Continually is an adverb that means regularly and often. While something occurs regularly or frequently, it does not mean that it is without ceasing.
1. Jana continually won all of the gymnastics meets in which she competed.
2. My next door neighbor continually mows his lawn on Sunday afternoons.
3. Our school holds fund raisers continually to support field trips and clubs for students.
Continuously is an adverb that means occurring without ceasing.
1. In the marathon, Mark ran continuously until he reached the finish line.
2. The dog barked continuously until the deer moved out of sight.
3. The rain fell continuously through the night, making the roads slick and wet the next morning.
When we use these words in everyday language, we often use them interchangeably. They are so similar, that most people would not fault you for mingling them, and typically they will understand your meaning regardless of the word you choose. But, if you are someone who strives continuously for perfection, then you would not want to continually misuse these words!
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