Distinguishing Between Continuous & Continual

Continuous and continual are two adjectives in the English language that have very different meanings, but they can be confusing due to their similar spellings. Although they may appear to be synonyms, they are actually quite different.

Continuous

Continuous is an adjective used to describe an event that continues for a certain duration without any interruptions. For example, if it rained continuously for two hours, it means that the rain did not stop during that time. If someone complains that they could not hear a phone call clearly because a child kept crying continuously, they are saying that the child cried throughout the entire call. Continuous is the adjective to be used for something that goes on without any interruption or cessation, whether it is continuous rain, continuous noise, or continuous snowfall.

Continual

Continual is an adjective used in situations where a condition is repeated frequently. For example, if a friend is always in debt and asking for financial help, you might describe them as being in a continual state of bankruptcy. If you go to a hill station but are forced to stay indoors due to frequent rains, you would say that your vacation was ruined because of continual rains.

Key Takeaways

• Continuous is used to describe a process that continues for a long time without interruption.
• Continual is used to describe a process that starts, stops, and restarts again and again, or occurs frequently.
• Continuous has a beginning and an end and is without interruptions, while continual refers to a process that occurs repeatedly.