Cool MateAs you were vs Carry on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As you were
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Carry on
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Carry onMost common: Carry on
| As you were | Carry on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //æz jʊə wɪə//🇺🇸 //æz jʊ wɪr// | 🇬🇧 //ˈkæri ɒn//🇺🇸 //ˈkæri ɑn// |
| Meaning | A way to tell someone to return to what they were doing. | To continue doing something. |
| Example | After the interruption, she smiled and said, 'As you were.' | Despite the distractions, she decided to carry on with her studies. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | as you were, just as you were, please as you were | carry on working, carry on despite, carry on with a task |
| 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'. | Confusing with 'carry out', which means to perform or execute., Using 'carry on' without a gerund or direct object when required. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual conversations, especially in informal settings. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Use 'carry on' to describe continuing an action. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but can sound informal in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: As you were vs Carry on
What's the difference between As you were and Carry on?
As you were: A way to tell someone to return to what they were doing. Carry on: To continue doing something.
Which is more formal: As you were and Carry on?
Carry on is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: As you were and Carry on?
Carry on 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.' Carry on: Despite the distractions, she decided to carry on with her studies.
Can I use As you were and Carry on interchangeably?
Not always. As you were and Carry on 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.