Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
CONTINUAL / CONTINUOUS
The adjective continual means repetitive; steadily recurring, usually in rapid succession. The adjective continuous means unbroken; without interruption. While continuous can be considered a synonym for continual, these finer distinctions are worth noting.
INCORRECT: The continuous telemarketing calls are beginning to annoy me.
CORRECT: The continual telemarketing calls are beginning to annoy me.
INCORRECT: After target shooting in a cave, I suffered continual ringing in my ear for ten days.
CORRECT: After target shooting in a cave, I suffered continuous ringing in my ear for ten days.
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