keep at it vs keep on

Both "keep at it" and "keep on" are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Keep at it" is commonly used to encourage someone to persist in their efforts or continue working on a task. On the other hand, "keep on" is more versatile and can be used to mean continue doing something, often with a sense of repetition or persistence.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1160 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to encourage someone to persist in their efforts or continue working on a task.

"keep at it"

This phrase is used to motivate or encourage someone to continue with their current course of action or task.

Examples:

You're doing great! Just keep at it and you'll succeed.
It's a tough project, but if you keep at it, you'll get it done.
Don't give up now, just keep at it!
I know it's challenging, but if you keep at it, you'll improve.
Keep at it, and you'll see progress soon.

Show examples from the web [+]

I'll tell you what, Roy, keep at it.
Keep at it, Benny, and you'll be feeling no pain.
He's going to keep at it, unless you do something about it.
You tell the ones that have it to keep at it.
I told her to keep at it, come back in a year or two.
She would encourage me to keep at it for as long as I needed to, no matter what.
You got to keep at it till you get all your ducks in a row.
Look at me, if I keep at it, I'll own a store in 6 months and live with Cris.
I'll keep at it, I will.
They keep at it all night.
That only works if you keep at it.
We just have to keep at it and finish our work.
So keep at it and don't turn back.
I'll keep at it till I figure something out.
Presumably they'll keep at it until they get some answers.
You can become an engineer if you keep at it.
Progress. Well, keep at it.
And if we keep at it for a few months, we could be old friends.
I'd say let's keep at it, but I have to get ready for Blair's party.
You two, you keep at it.

Alternatives:

keep going
keep working on it
keep pushing forward
keep persevering
keep it up

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean continue doing something, often with a sense of repetition or persistence.

"keep on"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone should continue with an action or behavior, often with a sense of persistence or repetition.

Examples:

I told him to keep on practicing until he gets it right.
Even when things get tough, you have to keep on going.
She decided to keep on trying until she achieved her goal.
Don't stop now, just keep on moving forward.
If you want to improve, you have to keep on working at it.

Show examples from the web [+]

Just have to keep on veering, that's all.
I can't keep on believing it was intentional.
We're too old to keep on playing.
You can't keep on bluffing Rome forever.
We need to keep on moving.
Then you can keep on dreaming.
I saw one of those things take thirty hits and keep on coming.
Working in Agritalia means wanting to keep on learning and improving.
You keep on workin', Homer.
He's only three to keep on it.
The key, Miguel, is keep on track.
I'll just keep on living, all alone...
Depends on how long you keep on yapping.
You keep on getting me in deeper.
I'll keep on looking for a solution.
You keep on holding the sheet.
Don't varnish and keep on burning.
So don't be lazy and keep on working.
We'll keep on going, you and me...
they keep on eating but Kálmán's stopped.

Alternatives:

continue
persist
carry on
keep going
keep it up

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keep at it vs keep on

"keep at it"

"keep on"

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