continue to remain (remain)

"Continue to remain" stacks two verbs that both signal persistence. Most of the time it adds bulk, not meaning. Below: when both verbs can be acceptable, quick rewrite steps, and many ready-to-copy wrong/right examples for work, school, and casual writing.

Quick answer

"Continue to remain" is grammatical but usually redundant. Use "continue" for ongoing actions and "remain" for ongoing states. Keep both only for rare legal/formal emphasis or intentional rhythm.

If it's an action → prefer "continue" (e.g., "We will continue to monitor").
If it's a state → prefer "remain" (e.g., "Prices remain high").
For emphasis, use an adverb ("still remains") or a stronger verb ("persists").

Core explanation: why it reads awkwardly

"Continue" means to persist or carry on; "remain" means to stay in a state. Both verbs express duration, so using them together usually repeats the same idea rather than adding precision.

Redundancy is a style issue: it weakens clarity and lengthens sentences.
Choose the verb that matches whether the sentence describes an action or a state.
Read aloud: if nothing new arrives with the second verb, cut it.

Wrong: The store will continue to remain open until 9 p.m.
Right: The store will remain open until 9 p.m.

Real usage: when keeping both verbs can make sense

Both verbs appear in legal texts and some rhetorical contexts. Those settings sometimes favor formality or tradition, but even there a tighter phrasing usually works.

Legal/formal: Traditional phrasing-e.g., "This order shall continue to remain in effect." Still: "This order remains in effect" is clearer.
Rhetorical: Speech or narrative may use the pair for rhythm or a deliberate pause: "He would continue to remain, even when no one else could." Use sparingly.
Rare technical distinction: If you need to contrast a continuing action with a concurrent state in the same clause, keep both-but rewrite for clarity if possible.

Fix your sentence: step-by-step rewrite help

Three quick steps will unclutter your sentence and preserve meaning:

Step 1 - Decide: action or state? Use "continue" for actions, "remain" for states.
Step 2 - Remove the redundant verb and read the sentence aloud to check meaning.
Step 3 - If you need emphasis, add an adverb ("still remains") or swap to a stronger verb ("persists").

Original: The policy will continue to remain in place. - Clean: The policy will remain in place.
Original: She continues to remain optimistic despite setbacks. - Clean: She remains optimistic despite setbacks.
Original: He continued to remain silent during the meeting. - Better: He remained silent during the meeting. - Emphatic: He remained completely silent.

Small edits, clearer writing

Trimming redundant verb pairs tightens email, reports, and essays. A focused pass on verbs and adverbs catches most redundancies without changing meaning.

Replace the pair with one precise verb, or rephrase for emphasis rather than stacking verbs.

Examples you can reuse (wrong → right) - work, school, casual

Match the tone: formal, neutral, or casual. Each wrong example uses the redundant pair; each right example shows a concise fix.

Wrong: We will continue to remain open until 9 p.m. -
Right: We will remain open until 9 p.m.
Wrong: The committee will continue to remain neutral on the proposal. -
Right: The committee will remain neutral on the proposal.
Wrong: The data continue to remain unchanged after the update. -
Right: The data remain unchanged after the update.
Wrong (report): The lease will continue to remain valid until December. - Right: The lease remains valid until December.
Wrong (status email): We will continue to remain on schedule. - Right: We remain on schedule. / or We will continue on schedule.
Wrong (meeting minute): The team continues to remain divided. - Right: The team remains divided. / or Team members remain divided.
Wrong (paper): The results continue to remain statistically significant. - Right: The results remain statistically significant.
Wrong (lab note): The samples continue to remain in the freezer overnight. - Right: The samples remain in the freezer overnight.
Wrong (email): I continue to remain available during office hours. - Right: I remain available during office hours. / or I'm available during office hours.
Wrong (text): I continue to remain friends with him. - Right: I remain friends with him. / or I'm still friends with him.
Wrong (post): I continue to remain excited about the trip. - Right: I'm still excited about the trip. / or I remain excited.
Wrong (conversation): She continues to remain my best friend. - Right: She remains my best friend.
Rewrite examples (tone options): Original: "Management will continue to remain committed to safety." -
Formal: Management remains committed to safety. - Emphatic: Management continues to be committed to safety.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context clarifies whether both verbs are needed. Paste your sentence into a style checker or read it aloud-the simpler version usually wins.

Memory trick: spot the redundancy quickly

Two quick questions: (1) Is this an action? (2) Is this a state? If both answers are essentially the same, drop one verb.

Action → use "continue" or another action verb ("proceed," "persist").
State → use "remain," "stay," or an adjective.
Flash rule: "Both mean persist → cut one."

Similar mistakes to watch for

Writers often pair words that repeat meaning. The fix is the same: choose the clearer, single expression.

"still continue" → redundant: use "still" + verb or just "continue."
"continue to persist" → redundant: use "persist" or "continue."
Tautologies to trim: "end result," "past history," "free gift."

Wrong: The problem continues to persist. -
Right: The problem persists.
Wrong: This is the end result of the test. -
Right: This is the result of the test.
Wrong: They will still continue to attend. -
Right: They will continue to attend.

Hyphenation and spacing: nothing special here

No hyphenation or spacing rules apply: "continue to remain" is two separate words. Fix redundancy by choosing the right verb, not by altering punctuation.

No hyphen: "continue to remain" - correct spacing is two words.
Punctuation won't remove redundancy; choose the right verb instead.

Grammar notes: tense, voice, and agreement

After removing one verb, check tense, voice, and subject-verb agreement. Collective nouns may need attention (e.g., "the team remains" vs. "team members remain").

Match tense: "The team continues" → "The team remains" (team as a unit) or "Team members remain" (plural).
Progressive nuance: present simple ("remains") usually conveys ongoing state without extra verbs.

Wrong: The staff continues to remain divided on the plan. -
Right: The staff remains divided on the plan. / Staff members remain divided.

FAQ

Is "continue to remain" grammatically correct?

Yes. It's grammatical but usually redundant. Prefer a single clearer verb unless you need formality or a stylistic beat.

When should I use "continue" instead of "remain"?

Use "continue" for ongoing actions or processes (e.g., "We will continue to monitor"). Use "remain" for persistent states (e.g., "The findings remain inconclusive").

Can legal documents keep both verbs?

They often do for tradition or perceived precision. Many editors favor shortening legal phrasing to improve clarity (e.g., "remains in effect").

How do I keep emphasis without redundancy?

Use an adverb ("still remains"), "continues to be," or a stronger verb like "persists" or "endures" rather than stacking verbs.

Is it OK to use the phrase in casual speech?

Casual speech allows redundancy, but shorter options usually sound better: "I'm still excited" or "I remain excited." Keep it simple for better flow.

Want help tightening a sentence?

Paste your sentence into a style checker or ask an editor for a tone-specific rewrite. A quick second read will reveal redundant verb pairs and suggest the most concise wording that preserves your emphasis.

Quick promo: Use a writing assistant to spot redundancies, try alternate tones, and choose the clearest verb for your sentence.