One thing I keep doing every day

[diamondcutter]

One thing I keep doing every day.

This is the title of the composition task in a test paper.

(Source: the English test paper, senior high school entrance exams, Henan province, China, 2021)

I don’t think it’s correct to use “keep” and “every day” together. I think the title should be rewritten as follows.

One thing I do every day.

What do you say?

In Chinese when we want to emphasize that we do something every day without exception, we say “坚持(similar to keep)做(do) 某事(something)”. I want to know if there is a way in English to express the similar meaning instead of just saying “do something every day”.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

One thing I keep doing every day.

This is the title of the composition task in a test paper.

(Source: the English test paper, senior high school entrance exams, Henan province, China, 2021)

I don’t think it’s correct to use “keep” and “every day” together. I think the title should be rewritten as follows.

One thing I do every day.

What do you say?

I say both titles are fine but have slightly different meanings. The word "keep" suggests that it's a bad habit or an unwanted behavior. Examples:

- No matter how hard I try to remember, I keep forgetting to lock the back door at night.

- I'll never finish my homework if you keep interrupting me.

In Chinese when we want to emphasize that we do something every day without exception, we say “坚持(similar to keep)做(do) 某事(something)”. I want to know if there is a way in English to express the similar meaning instead of just saying “do something every day”.

I don't know.

But I think there are others here who can tell you.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, GoesStation.

I think what the test-maker wants to express is that one thing I do every day without exception.

I still don’t think using “keep doing” and “every day” together is correct. For example, I keep reading English every day. It’s very obvious that the sentence is not proper.

I’d like to read more comments.

 

[GoesStation]

Thanks, GoesStation.

I think you mean Charlie.

I still don’t think using “keep doing” and “every day” together is correct. For example, I keep reading English every day. It’s very obvious that the sentence is not proper.

I might not use that one, but the sentence in #1 is fine.

 

[probus]

How about "One thing I do every day without fail ...:? Or "without exception".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Or: The one thing I always do every day is . . . .

Using "one" stresses that it's important and exlusive, and "always" adds more emphasis.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Thanks, GoesStation.

I think what the test-maker wants to express is that one thing I do every day without exception.

I still don’t think using “keep doing” and “every day” together is correct.

What's wrong with it?

For example, I keep reading English every day.

That's fine. Or you could say: I continue to read English every day.

It’s very obvious that the sentence is not proper.

Obvious? It's grammatical and natural. Why do you think it's not proper?

I’d like to read more comments.

Review the comments above.