English to English translations [PRO] Education / Pedagogy / Grammar
English term or phrase:continually vs continuously
Maybe I've been in China too long as I'm having a problem with an English sentence:) The context is laptops being displayed in an exhibition to display their audio and graphic capabilities to their full potential. An option for one of the laptops reads as follows:
"This laptop should play movies continually."
When I first read it I instinctively wanted to change it to "continuously" but then the more I thought about it the more I became unsure!
I know both words would be grammatically correct but what would be the change in meaning if one was chosen over the other?
I don't have any more context to go on, whether it's the same movie to be played over and over or if the intention is for the laptop to play different movies in succession but if someone could give me the fundamental difference between the two choices and which one would fit better I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Mark
Explanation: I agree completely with the several explanations of the difference between the two. However, the way I understand the situation is the following:
There are a number of laptops being displayed in an exhibition. They are set up to do diverse functions.
One of them ("This") should be set up to play 2-3 movies over and over and over again.
This is of course a continuous playing of movies, but it is also a continual operation - one that keeps being repeated.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer and for giving me clear, precise examples of both uses. I know it's not wise to go against the majority but in this instance and after reading all of your examples and comments, "continually" would appear to be more appropriate. I've been to expos before and whether it's laptops or dvds etc they usually have gaps where disks are changed because different movie genres can highlight different video and audio aspects therefore a break or an interruption would be inevitable and indicate "continually".
still find it strange that you, a visitor, were able to see that sentence, which is an instruction how they should be played while being exhibited, unless you were one of the exhibitor yourself...
I thought I made it clear in my first paragraph that the context was an exhibition of laptops (plural) on display and this particular one was to display a movie...what's it going to be, continually or continuously? Judging by the "agrees" I should go with continuously but now with Flemming's answer and Sergey's response I'm inclined to think it should be continually. Why does the English language have to be so bloody specific:)
continually - in that case - because it would physically be impossible to play them continiously:
- they are not going to stand and watch the laptop finish a movie... so there's bound to be an interruption - a short break... strictly speaking...
The "should" is because it's not so much about the capabilities of the actual laptop but more about the exhibition display and what the laptop should be displaying on the screen when potential buyers pass by.
Anna Augustin France Local time: 00:36 Works in field Native speaker of: English, French PRO pts in category: 20
6 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +6
continuously
Explanation: In this context continuously is more appropriate. The meaning is what you expect from the laptop to do - play the movie without interruption or stopping, 'in a loop', etc...
Compared to this the word "continually" would mean 'providing continuity' - again in some content that might be more suitable, but in this context the movie that the laptop plays is not providing continuity to an overriding concept.
webguru Local time: 09:36 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Czech, Slovak
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