Continually vs Continuously

It is incorrect to use the words continuous and continual interchangeably because there is a difference between them.

Comparison chart

edit Main Difference in Meaning

While both adjectives describe duration, continuous indicates duration without interruption. For example, The continuous humming of the fluorescent lights gave him a headache.

Continual indicates duration that continues over a long period of time, but with intervals of interruption. For example, The continual street repair disrupted traffic for nearly two years.

The distinction between adverbs continuously and continually follows the same pattern. For example,

• The infant screamed continuously for 2 minutes until her parents woke up to change her diaper. (here continuously means non-stop)
• It drizzles continually in the winter months in Seattle. (continually does not mean it's drizzling non-stop. Rather, it drizzles on and off throughout the winter.)

edit Video explaining the differences

edit See Also

• Avenge vs Revenge
• Immigrate vs Emigrate
• Envy vs Jealousy
• Principal vs Principle
• Jail vs Prison
• Advice vs Advise
• Depression vs Recession
• Highway vs Freeway

Comments: Continually vs Continuously

Anonymous comments

I have been continually using these wrong for years!

71.✗.✗.15 on 2013-04-30 19:31:22

thanks so much for clearing that up!

141.✗.✗.210 on 2012-11-28 13:00:53