What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
continuing
Example
The company is continuing its efforts to reduce waste. [continuing: present participle]
Example
We will be continuing our discussion after lunch. [continuing: verb]
ongoing
Example
The investigation into the matter is still ongoing. [ongoing: adjective]
Example
The project has been ongoing for several months. [ongoing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ongoing is more commonly used than continuing in everyday language. Ongoing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while continuing is less common and often used in specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between continuing and ongoing?
Both continuing and ongoing can be used in formal or informal contexts, but ongoing is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
