Cool MateAs you were vs Continue
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As you were
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Continue
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: ContinueMost common: Continue
| As you were | Continue | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //æz jʊə wɪə//🇺🇸 //æz jʊ wɪr// | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtɪnjuː/","/kənˈtɪnjuːz/","/kənˈtɪnjuːd/","/kənˈtɪnjuːɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A way to tell someone to return to what they were doing. | To keep doing something without stopping. |
| Example | After the interruption, she smiled and said, 'As you were.' | Please continue with your presentation after the break. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | as you were, just as you were, please as you were | continue doing, continue with, continue on, continue to speak, continue until |
| Antonyms | - | stop, cease, halt |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as a command rather than a suggestion., Misunderstood as a greeting rather than a prompt to continue., Confused with similar phrases like 'carry on'. | 'Continue' followed by a noun instead of a gerund (e.g., 'continue the project' instead of 'continue doing the project'), Confusing 'continue' with 'resume' — 'resume' implies starting again after a pause, Using 'continue to' followed by an adjective (incorrect) instead of a verb (correct) |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual conversations, especially in informal settings. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Use 'continue' when talking about ongoing actions or processes. It's neutral, so it's appropriate in most contexts, but can sound too formal in casual conversations. Avoid using in contexts where you're suggesting to start something new. |
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Frequently asked questions: As you were vs Continue
What's the difference between As you were and Continue?
As you were: A way to tell someone to return to what they were doing. Continue: To keep doing something without stopping.
Which is more formal: As you were and Continue?
Continue is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: As you were and Continue?
Continue is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
As you were: After the interruption, she smiled and said, 'As you were.' Continue: Please continue with your presentation after the break.
Can I use As you were and Continue interchangeably?
Not always. As you were and Continue are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.