Close in meaning

Continual vs. Continuous

Continual means happening again and again, with breaks in between. Continuous means going on without any stop or gap. Continual phone alerts interrupt your work; a continuous hum never pauses.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
continual	adjective	happening often and repeatedly, with pauses between, often in an annoying way
continuous	adjective	going on without a break or gap, in time or in space

Continual

adjective: happening often and repeatedly, with pauses between, often in an annoying way

The continual interruptions made it hard to finish the report.
The old printer continually jams on thick paper.

Continuous

adjective: going on without a break or gap, in time or in space

The river makes a continuous sound that helps me sleep.
The fence forms one continuous line around the farm.

How to remember the difference

Continual is like a dripping tap: drip, pause, drip. Continuous is like a running tap that never stops.

Good to know

Many people use the two as synonyms, and dictionaries show some overlap. In careful writing, and especially in science and math (a continuous line, continuous data), keep the distinction.

Spot the mistake

The pump provides a ~~continual~~ continuous flow of water with no breaks at all.
Correct: The pump provides a continuous flow of water with no breaks at all.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Our arguments about chores finally stopped when we made a chart.

2. The highway has a barrier down the middle with no gaps.