Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
continual/continuous
English answer:
repeatedly/unbroken
Added to glossary by
Kim Metzger
Mar 21, 2004 20:01
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
continual/continuous
English
Other
Zoology
Can anyone explain the difference in usage between continual and continuous?
If you are talking about constant noise for example, is this continual or continuous? Or can it be both?
Thanks!
If you are talking about constant noise for example, is this continual or continuous? Or can it be both?
Thanks!
Responses
Responses
+13
3 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
continuous
The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage: continual = over and over again; continuous = unbroken
A constant noise would be continuous
A constant noise would be continuous
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Kim!! It was referring to insects scuffling through grain, so I still think continual, since it wouldn't be constant. But thanks for explanining the difference, I hadn't really analysed this before!"
+2
4 mins
Monica Colangelo
Argentina
Argentina
Works in field
Argentina
45 yrs' experience in most every field
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Rioplatense, Latin American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Standard-Spain, Uruguayan, Bolivian, Argentine, US)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish, and 1 more.
+2
5 mins
Maria Luisa Duarte
Spain
Spain
Native in English
&
English
Spain
Professional, Reliable & Committed
Native in: English 
, Portuguese
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Spanish, Portuguese to Spanish, and 7 more.
see
continual
(adjective)
happening repeatedly, usually in an annoying or inconvenient way:
I've had continual problems with this car ever since I bought it.
I'm sorry - I can't work with these continual interruptions.
continually
(adverb)
They argue continually.
continuous
(adjective)
without a pause or interruption:
continuous pain
My computer makes a continuous low buzzing noise.
A continuous white line (= line without spaces) in the middle of the road means no overtaking.
CONTINUOUS NOISE!
(adjective)
happening repeatedly, usually in an annoying or inconvenient way:
I've had continual problems with this car ever since I bought it.
I'm sorry - I can't work with these continual interruptions.
continually
(adverb)
They argue continually.
continuous
(adjective)
without a pause or interruption:
continuous pain
My computer makes a continuous low buzzing noise.
A continuous white line (= line without spaces) in the middle of the road means no overtaking.
CONTINUOUS NOISE!
9 mins
Empty Whiskey Glass
Your language solution
Native in: Bulgarian
Works in: Bulgarian, English to Bulgarian, Russian to Bulgarian, and 2 more.
Below
Continuous Improvement as I have learned it implies that the event occurs in a predictable manner. A continuous beep might be: beep (pause 2 seconds) beep (pause 2 seconds) beep (pause 2 seconds)...onward. It occurs in an established, predictable pattern/rhythm.
Continual improvement implies starts and stops in an unestablished manner. For example: beep (pause 10 seconds) beep (pause 4 seconds) beep (pause 3 seconds) beep (pause 8 seconds). No discernable pattern or rhythm.
Quote: continual improvement
recurring activity to increase the ability to fulfil requirements
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=7478
Continual improvement implies starts and stops in an unestablished manner. For example: beep (pause 10 seconds) beep (pause 4 seconds) beep (pause 3 seconds) beep (pause 8 seconds). No discernable pattern or rhythm.
Quote: continual improvement
recurring activity to increase the ability to fulfil requirements
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=7478
+1
14 mins
continuous
1 : continuing indefinitely in time without interruption <continual fear>
2 : recurring in steady usually rapid succession <a history of continual invasions>
1 : marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence
2 of a function : having the property that the absolute value of the numerical difference between the value at a given point and the value at any point in a neighborhood of the given point can be made as close to zero as desired by choosing the neighborhood small enough
2 : recurring in steady usually rapid succession <a history of continual invasions>
1 : marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence
2 of a function : having the property that the absolute value of the numerical difference between the value at a given point and the value at any point in a neighborhood of the given point can be made as close to zero as desired by choosing the neighborhood small enough
5 mins
Alexander Demyanov
Software Engineering background
Native in: Russian
Works in: English, Russian, Russian to English, and 1 more.
Time/Both
continuous - marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence
continual - continuing indefinitely in time without interruption
For example, you say "continuous line" but "continual pain"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2004-03-21 20:38:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Continual (Con*tin\"u*al) (?), a.
[OE. continuel, F. continuel. See Continue.]
1. Proceeding without interruption or cesstaion; continuous; unceasing; lasting; abiding. \"He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.\" Prov. xv. 15.
2. Occuring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; often repeated. \"The eye is deligh by a continental succession of small landscapes.\" W. Irwing.
-- Continual proportionals (Math.), quantities in continued proportion. Brande & C.
continual - continuing indefinitely in time without interruption
For example, you say "continuous line" but "continual pain"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2004-03-21 20:38:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Continual (Con*tin\"u*al) (?), a.
[OE. continuel, F. continuel. See Continue.]
1. Proceeding without interruption or cesstaion; continuous; unceasing; lasting; abiding. \"He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.\" Prov. xv. 15.
2. Occuring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; often repeated. \"The eye is deligh by a continental succession of small landscapes.\" W. Irwing.
-- Continual proportionals (Math.), quantities in continued proportion. Brande & C.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Edward L. Crosby III
: Continual = repeatedly WITH interruptions is how I know the term.
7 mins
|
|
Well, may be you should look into a dictionary once in a while. Your meaning is valid too (as the second meaning)
|
Something went wrong...