Confusable pair · C1
Continual or continuous?
Continuous means without any break at all: continuous rain from Tuesday to Friday. Continual means repeated with gaps in between: continual interruptions. If it stopped and started, it was continual. If it genuinely never stopped, it was continuous. Continual usually carries irritation; continuous is neutral.
Which word, and why
- continual
repeated, with gaps — usually annoying
Happening again and again over a period.
continual interruptions · continual complaints
- continuous
unbroken — no gaps at all
Going on without any interruption.
continuous rain · continuous service · a continuous line
Now use it
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Item 1 of 5
The interruptions meant the meeting ran an hour over.
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