Continuously or Continually?

Question

I have a hard time distinguishing the proper use of these two words, continuously and continually. According to my dictionary, 'continuously' seems to indicate a physical condition, such as a continuous line of dots, or a continuous procession of automobiles, whereas 'continually' seems to be strictly a record of events, such as a continual interruption of service. Maybe I've answered my own question then, but is this even a critial issue? Do people in the know notice improper use of these terms? Is it something I should be concerned out when writing, say, a college paper?

-jay

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I have a hard time distinguishing the proper use of these two words, continuously and continually. According to my dictionary, ... notice improper use of these terms? Is it something I should be concerned out when writing, say, a college paper?[/nq]
Sometimes you just need another dictionary. The AHD has this:

continual (ken-tîn´y¡-el) adjective 1.Recurring regularly or frequently: the continual need to pay the mortgage. 2.Not interrupted; steady: continual noise; a continual diet of vegetables. - contin´ually adverb

Synonyms: continual, continuous, constant, ceaseless, incessant, perpetual, eternal, perennial, interminable. These adjectives are compared as they mean occurring over and over during a long period of time. Continual can connote absence of interruption (lived in continual fear) but is chiefly restricted to what is intermittent or repeated at intervals (the continual banging of the shutter in the wind). Continuous implies lack of interruption in time, substance, or extent: She suffered a continuous bout of illness lasting six months. The horizon is a continuous line. Constant stresses steadiness or persistence of occurrence and unvarying nature: the constant chatter of the monkeys in the zoo; constant repetition of the exercise. Ceaseless and incessant pertain to uninterrupted activity: the ceaseless thunder of the surf against the rocks; incessant questions. Perpetual emphasizes both steadiness and duration: a perpetual struggle; a perpetual stream of visitors. Eternal refers to what is everlasting, especially to what is seemingly without temporal beginning or end: "That freedom can be retained only by the eternal vigilance which has always been its price" (Elmer Davis). Perennial describes existence that goes on year after year, often with the suggestion of self-renewal: wished for perennial youth; the perennial problem of urban poverty. Interminable refers to what is or seems to be endless and is often applied to something prolonged and wearisome: interminable talk; an interminable argument.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I have a hard time distinguishing the proper use of these two words, continuously and continually. According to my dictionary, ... notice improper use of these terms? Is it something I should be concerned out when writing, say, a college paper?[/nq]
It might simplify things to think first of the adjectives, and then extend it to the adverbs.

continuous means "unbroken" continual means "again and again"

"There's a continuous buzz on the telephone line" means it never stops.

"The meeting was continually interrupted by cellphone calls" means that there were a lot of interruptions.
-- Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Continuously or Continually?

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