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continual/continuous

English translation: repeatedly/unbroken

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	continual/continuous
English translation:	repeatedly/unbroken
Entered by:	Kim Metzger

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20:01 Mar 21, 2004

[FAQ]

English to English translations [PRO]
Zoology

English term or phrase: continual/continuous

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!

Emma Cox KudoZ activity Questions: 84 (5 open) Answers: 100 United Kingdom
Local time: 23:13

continuous

Explanation:
The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage: continual = over and over again; continuous = unbroken
A constant noise would be continuous

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 17:13

Grading 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!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +13

continuous

Kim Metzger

5 +2

see

Maria Luisa Duarte

5 +2

Continual= with intervals // Continuous = nonstop

trixiemck

Time/Both

Alexander Demyanov

Below

Empty Whiskey Glass

3 +1

continuous

cillegio

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +13

continuous

Explanation:
The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage: continual = over and over again; continuous = unbroken
A constant noise would be continuous

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 17:13
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Continual= with intervals // Continuous = nonstop

Explanation:
HTH

trixiemck
Argentina
Local time: 20:13
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

see

Explanation:
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!

Reference: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?dict=CALD&key=166...

Maria Luisa Duarte
Spain
Local time: 00:13
Native speaker of:

English,

Portuguese

9 mins confidence:

Below

Explanation:
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

Empty Whiskey Glass
Local time: 01:13
Native speaker of:

Bulgarian

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

continuous

Explanation:
1 : continuing indefinitely in time without interruption
2 : recurring in steady usually rapid succession

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

cillegio
Local time: 03:13
Native speaker of:

Russian

5 mins confidence:

Time/Both

Explanation:
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.

Alexander Demyanov
Local time: 18:13
Native speaker of:

Russian

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English translation: repeatedly/unbroken

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English translation: repeatedly/unbroken

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