be under construction

USAGE SUMMARY

"be under construction" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is in progress or being developed. For example, "The new shopping mall is under construction and is expected to open by the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The whole city seemed to be under construction.

The New Yorker

Another 300 were reported to be under construction.

The New York Times

Like the 3,000 units of low-income housing now or soon to be under construction.

The New York Times - Sports

An additional 50-megawatt plant in East Texas is expected to be under construction by September.

The New York Times

Mollie Norris's website, which disappeared when she did, is reported to be under construction.

Stanford University

Of equal or greater import is China's plan to soon deploy an aircraft carrier known to be under construction.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

A school is under construction.

The New York Times

Expensive homes are under construction.

The New York Times - Sports

Another 310 are under construction.

The New York Times

Gas grids are under construction.

The New York Times

Another ten are under construction.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing projects or areas that are not yet completed, use "be under construction" to clearly indicate the ongoing work. For example, "The new library is under construction and is expected to open next year."

Common error

Avoid using "be under construction" when referring to abstract concepts or processes that are being revised or improved. Instead, use phrases like "in development" or "being refined" for non-physical projects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be under construction" functions as a predicate within a sentence, indicating that something is in the process of being built or developed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be under construction" is a very common and grammatically sound way to describe something that is currently being built or developed. Ludwig AI confirms that it is appropriate for use in written English across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in academic and business contexts. While alternatives like "in the process of being built" or "currently being built" exist, "be under construction" remains a clear and widely accepted choice for indicating ongoing building activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be in the process of being built

Rephrases the idea using "in the process of being built", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the building activity.

be currently being built

Uses "currently being built" to highlight the present state of the construction.

be undergoing construction

Uses the verb "undergo" to indicate that construction is happening to the subject.

be actively being developed

Shifts focus to development, applicable to broader contexts beyond just physical structures.

be in active development

A more concise way of saying something is currently being worked on.

be presently being erected

Employs "erected" to specifically refer to the vertical construction of a structure.

be under development

Similar to "be actively being developed", but more general and can apply to non-physical projects.

be actively getting built

More informal, using "getting built" to convey ongoing construction.

be in the works

A more idiomatic expression indicating that something is planned or in progress.

be taking shape

Suggests that something is gradually developing and becoming more defined through construction.

FAQs

How do I use "be under construction" in a sentence?

Use "be under construction" to describe something that is currently being built or developed. For example, "The highway is "be under construction", so expect delays."

What can I say instead of "be under construction"?

You can use alternatives like "in the process of being built", "currently being built", or "undergoing construction" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "be under construction" or "be in construction"?

"Be under construction" is the correct and more commonly used phrase to describe something that is currently being built. "Be in construction" is less common and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "be under construction" and "be under renovation"?

"Be under construction" refers to something new being built, while "be under renovation" indicates that an existing structure is being repaired or improved. Therefore, depending on the context, one or the other will make sense.