Continue Doing vs. Continue To Do
“Continue” is documented with both -ing and to-infinitive complements. The pair normally describes persistence of the same activity, so it should not be given the meaning split associated with verbs such as “go on.”
Both “continue doing” and “continue to do” are standard for keeping an activity going, and they often have the same practical meaning.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| an activity keeps going | continue + -ing | Standard construction. |
| an activity keeps going | continue + to-infinitive | Also standard and often equivalent in practical meaning. |
| the wording affects rhythm or emphasis | choose the smoother construction | Prefer the form that reads naturally in the sentence; do not manufacture a semantic contrast without evidence. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you simply mean that the same activity keeps going?
If yes: Either “continue doing” or “continue to do” can be standard.
If no: Check whether a different sense of “continue” or sentence structure is intended.
Caveat: Both constructions are documented. Do not claim a universal meaning difference when context does not support one.
Examples
She continued working after lunch.
The -ing form presents the activity as continuing.
She continued to work after lunch.
The infinitive form is also standard for the same basic meaning.
The team will continue reviewing applications tomorrow.
The activity continues into the next period.
Further guidance
Comparison Boundary
Keep this guide separate from “go on doing” versus “go on to do,” where a genuine meaning contrast can occur.
Meaning Boundary
Do not impose a rule that the to-infinitive means changing to a new activity; Oxford examples show both forms for continued activity.
Shared Pattern
Use either continue + -ing or continue + to-infinitive to say that an activity keeps happening when the sentence remains clear.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- continue — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries · Continue with to-infinitive and -ing complement patterns