Continuity Editing

Continuity editing is the predominant style of film editing and video editing in the
post-production process of filmmaking of narrative films and television programs.
The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of
the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.
In most films, logical coherence is achieved by cutting to continuity, which
emphasizes smooth transition of time and space. However, some films
incorporate cutting to continuity into a more complex classical cutting technique,
one which also tries to show psychological continuity of shots. The montage
technique relies on symbolic association of ideas between shots rather than
association of simple physical action for its continuity.
Continuity editing can be divided into two categories: temporal continuity and
spatial continuity. Within each category, specific techniques will work against a
sense of continuity. In other words, techniques can cause a passage to be
continuous, giving the viewer a concrete physical narration to follow, or
discontinuous, causing viewer disorientation, pondering, or even subliminal
interpretation or reaction, as in the montage style.