I have been making

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I have been making" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an ongoing action that has been taking place over a period of time. For example: "I have been making significant progress toward my goal this semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

I have been making it ever since.

The New York Times - Food

I have been making a documentary series, Our Drugs War.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I have been making eyelashes since I was 15.

The Guardian

Q I have been making fudge for years.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I have been making a lot of fruit pies recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What's all the fuss I have been making......

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

I have been made scapegoat.

The Guardian

I have been made to feel insecure by his minions".

The New Yorker

"I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression".

The Guardian

I have been made sick by it.

Huffington Post

I've been making sizable mistakes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I have been making" to emphasize the duration of an action or the ongoing nature of a process. It's particularly effective when highlighting continuous effort or repeated actions over time.

Common error

Don't use "I have been making" when a simple past tense like "I made" is more appropriate. Overusing the present perfect continuous can make your writing sound awkward. For example, prefer "I made dinner last night" over "I have been making dinner last night."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I have been making" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. Ludwig confirms its proper use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I have been making" is a grammatically correct and very common present perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe ongoing actions that started in the past. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, with the most frequent occurrences being in news and media. While it can be used in formal and informal settings, careful consideration should be given to avoid overuse when a simple past tense is more appropriate. Ludwig's examples provide a wide range of contexts for understanding its proper use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I've been doing

Uses a more concise contraction and the verb "doing" for a general activity.

I have been working on

Implies effort and labor towards a specific goal or project.

I've been creating

Specifies the action as "creating", suggesting the production of something new.

I have continuously produced

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the production with "continuously produced".

I have consistently generated

Highlights the consistent output or generation of something.

I've engaged in the production of

More formal and verbose, using "engaged in the production of" to denote involvement.

I have regularly crafted

Highlights the skill or artistry involved, using "crafted" to suggest careful creation.

I am in the process of developing

Focuses on the developmental aspect, indicating an ongoing process of improvement.

I am currently developing

Focuses on the present action of developing something, removing the emphasis on the past.

My recent work involves

Shifts the focus to the work itself rather than the person doing it.

FAQs

How do I use "I have been making" in a sentence?

Use "I have been making" to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. For example, "I have been making progress on my project lately" indicates ongoing work.

What can I say instead of "I have been making"?

You can use alternatives like "I've been doing", "I have worked on", or "I am in the process of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I have been making" or "I made"?

"I have been making" implies a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing. "I made" refers to a completed action in the past. The correct choice depends on the context. "I have been making dinner all evening" versus "I made dinner last night."

What's the difference between "I have been making" and "I am making"?

"I have been making" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, whereas "I am making" describes an action happening right now. "I have been making plans for my vacation all week" (ongoing) versus "I am making dinner right now" (present action).