Okay, but what is the difference between "continual" and "continuous"? This one has been bugging me for YEARS. I asked the editor of the college newspaper once, and he told me to buzz off. Some people just don't understand...
A very interesting question, Chess La Ress, and one I had not considered before now. M-W.com gives us this:
"CONTINUAL often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence [continual showers the whole weekend]. CONTINUOUS usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension [football's oldest continuous rivalry]."
Honestly, I'm not sure I can tell what they think the difference is, based on that snippet. Perhaps that continual is for short-term events, while continuous spans eons?
I think your conclusion is correct, Kelly. Continual seems to be relatively short term with some nearby endpoint. Continuous seems to be ongoing without a definite endpoint.
Interesting question, Chess La Ress. I like the way you think!
12 comments:
I love it when you get all grouchy about correct wording. ;-)
Lord I hope you aren't grading my comments. I never could spell, and there's no spell checker on this comment thingy.
Jeesh. You're so picky. You act like an editor or something.
Ditto!! No spell check and have kitens that like to walk on the keyboard.
*shivers of delight*
Okay, but what is the difference between "continual" and "continuous"? This one has been bugging me for YEARS. I asked the editor of the college newspaper once, and he told me to buzz off. Some people just don't understand...
A very interesting question, Chess La Ress, and one I had not considered before now. M-W.com gives us this:
"CONTINUAL often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence [continual showers the whole weekend]. CONTINUOUS usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension [football's oldest continuous rivalry]."
Honestly, I'm not sure I can tell what they think the difference is, based on that snippet. Perhaps that continual is for short-term events, while continuous spans eons?
Discuss.
Isn't that exactly what makes the english language so much fun? ;)
I feel so enlightened (or is it enlightnened?)
Re: your original post--did Evie put you up to saying that? You know what a stickler she is.
This is just one reason I dig you!
While you're doing this, might you just remind everyone, gently, that 'your' is nothing more than a sad attempt at 'you're'?
If you do that, I'll work on those who have a hard time wanting to use 'nt versus n't.
I think your conclusion is correct, Kelly. Continual seems to be relatively short term with some nearby endpoint. Continuous seems to be ongoing without a definite endpoint.
Interesting question, Chess La Ress. I like the way you think!
Wow! Last time I checked, the dictionary didn't make that much sense. So if I understand that correctly, I could say, for instance:
Kelly is continually writing thought-provoking blog posts.
or
Kelly is continuously thinking of interesting things to write about on her blog.
Post...Post...Post...Post (continual)
ThinkingThinkingThinkingThinking (continuous)
I love it!
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