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Continual vs Frequently - What's the difference?

continual | frequently |

As an adjective continual

is recurring in steady, rapid succession.

As an adverb frequently is

at frequent intervals.

continual

English

Alternative forms

* continuall (obsolete)

Adjective

(-)
  • Recurring in steady, rapid succession.
  • (proscribed) Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
  • (proscribed) Forming a continuous series.
  • Usage notes

    In careful usage, continual refers to repeated'' actions “continual objections”, while continuous refers to ''uninterrupted'' actions or objects “continuous flow”, “played music continuously from dusk to dawn”. However, this distinction is not observed in informal usage, a noted example being the magic spell name “continual light” (unbroken light), in the game ''.

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    frequently

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • At frequent intervals.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Stephen P. Lownie], [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/david-m-pelz David M. Pelz
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Stents to Prevent Stroke , passage=As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels. The reason plaque forms isn’t entirely known, but it seems to be related to high levels of cholesterol inducing an inflammatory response, which can also attract and trap more cellular debris over time.}}
  • (mathematics, of a sequence) For infinitely many terms of the sequence.
  • Synonyms

    * as often as not, often, oftenly, oftentimes, occasionally

    See also

    * eventually English frequency adverbs