Precise bounds are given for the quantity

$$ L(\alpha)=\frac{\limsup_{m\rightarrow\infty}(1/m)\ln q_m}{\liminf_{m\rightarrow\infty}(1/m)\ln q_m}, $$

where $(q_m)$ is the classical sequence of denominators of convergents to the continued fraction $\alpha=[0,u_1,u_2,\dots]$ and $(u_m)$ is assumed bounded, with a distribution.

If the infinite word $\bm{u}=u_1u_2\dots$ has arbitrarily large instances of segment repetition at or near the beginning of the word, then we quantify this property by means of a number $\gamma$, called the segment-repetition factor.

If $\alpha$ is not a quadratic irrational, then we produce a specific sequence of quadratic irrational approximations to $\alpha$, the rate of convergence given in terms of $L$ and $\gamma$. As an application, we demonstrate the transcendence of some continued fractions, a typical one being of the form $[0,u_1,u_2,\dots]$ with $u_m=1+\lfloor m\theta\rfloor\Mod n$, $n\geq2$, and $\theta$ an irrational number which satisfies any of a given set of conditions.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 11A55. Secondary 11B37