be achieving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be achieving" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It could be used in a context where you are discussing ongoing or future accomplishments, but it is generally awkward and not commonly used. Example: "They seem to be achieving their goals more effectively this quarter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He'll be achieving.

The Guardian

"Did I ever expect to be achieving this?

The Guardian

"They're straight lines that say what they should be achieving.

The Guardian

"It suggests that what the Fed's doing to cool the economy may be achieving some results".

The New York Times

Having said there needs to be, achieving it is another challenge".

The Guardian

The harder part was always going to be achieving Mr Zelaya's reinstatement.

The Economist

That's the number England should be achieving, not a team like Fiji.

Independent

Any sort of analysis shows the SNP's policies to be achieving the opposite of what they claim.

The Guardian

And by those measures it would already seem to be achieving dramatic results – surprising even those behind the scheme.

The Guardian

I am elated because the progressive political domain I traditionally belong in seems to be achieving a historical victory.

The Guardian

On the military front, 10 days of bombing and missile attacks on Afghanistan appeared to be achieving their desired effect.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing ongoing actions, consider using the present continuous tense with "are achieving" for grammatical correctness. For example: "They are achieving significant progress".

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses. Instead of saying "They will be achieve great things", ensure consistent future tense use: "They will achieve great things" or "They are going to achieve great things".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as part of a verb phrase, typically intended to form a continuous tense. However, the construction is often considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase can be improved by adjusting the auxiliary verb to "are" or "will be", depending on the intended tense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

99%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be achieving" is frequently found across various sources, as shown by Ludwig, primarily in news and media. However, Ludwig AI points out that this construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning typically revolves around expressing ongoing actions or future accomplishments. To correct this, consider using "are achieving" for present continuous, or "will be achieving" for future continuous tenses. Despite its common occurrence, careful attention to grammatical correctness is crucial when using phrases like "be achieving".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are achieving

Uses the present continuous tense to indicate ongoing accomplishments.

are accomplishing

Replaces "achieving" with a synonym in the present continuous.

will achieve

Uses the future simple tense to indicate future accomplishments.

are attaining

Replaces "achieving" with a synonym suggesting reaching a goal in the present continuous.

will accomplish

Replaces "achieve" with a synonym in the future simple.

are fulfilling

Replaces "achieving" with a synonym suggesting satisfying a requirement in the present continuous.

will attain

Replaces "achieve" with a synonym suggesting reaching a goal in the future simple.

are realizing

Replaces "achieving" with a synonym suggesting making something real in the present continuous.

will be achieving

Uses the future continuous tense to indicate future ongoing accomplishments.

will fulfill

Replaces "achieve" with a synonym suggesting satisfying a requirement in the future simple.

FAQs

What are grammatically correct alternatives to "be achieving"?

Consider using alternatives such as "are achieving" for present continuous, or "will achieve" for future simple. The continuous form "will be achieving" could also be suitable.

Is "be achieving" grammatically correct in English?

While present in numerous sources, the phrase "be achieving" is generally considered grammatically questionable. It often needs adjustment to align with standard English usage, like using "are achieving" instead.

How can I use "achieving" correctly in a sentence?

Use "achieving" with auxiliary verbs like "is", "are", "was", or "were" to form continuous tenses. For example, "They are achieving their goals", or "She was achieving success in her career".

What's the difference between "be achieving" and "are achieving"?

"Are achieving" is the grammatically correct present continuous form, indicating an ongoing action or process. "Be achieving" is not standard and typically requires correction to "are achieving", "will be achieving", or other appropriate forms.