been doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the present perfect continuous tense to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently stopped. Example: "I have been doing my homework for the last two hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"He's been doing that.

The New York Times - Sports

What had she been doing?

The New Yorker

"I've been doing a lot".

The New York Times - Sports

"I've been doing hot yoga.

Independent

He hasn't been doing them".

The New Yorker

How had she been doing?

The New Yorker

And I've been doing it!

The New York Times

What have you been doing?

The New York Times - Magazine

She's been doing that forever".

The New York Times

"That's all I've been doing.

The New Yorker

Many have been doing so.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been doing" to emphasize the duration or ongoing nature of an action. For example, "I have been doing yoga for five years" highlights the continuous practice.

Common error

Avoid using "been doing" when referring to a completed action in the past. For example, instead of "I been doing that", use "I did that" or "I have done that."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been doing" functions as part of the present perfect continuous tense. It is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have recently finished. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been doing" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to form the present perfect continuous tense. It serves to highlight the ongoing nature of an action that began in the past and continues to the present. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, with primary usage in News & Media. Remember to use "been doing" when you want to stress the duration or continuous effort of an activity. Alternative phrases like "have done" or "have been working on" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have done

Focuses on the completed action or experience, rather than the ongoing process.

have been up to

Implies an inquiry about someone's recent activities or endeavors.

have engaged in

Suggests a more formal or deliberate involvement in a particular activity.

have practiced

Highlights the act of repeatedly performing an activity to improve skill.

have worked on

Emphasizes the effort and labor invested in a task or project.

have pursued

Suggests actively striving towards a goal or interest.

have undertaken

Implies taking on a responsibility or task.

have handled

Focuses on managing or dealing with a situation or task.

have tackled

Suggests confronting and addressing a challenge or problem.

have devoted time to

Highlights the dedication and time spent on a particular activity.

FAQs

How do I use "been doing" in a sentence?

Use "been doing" with a form of "have" to indicate an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "I have "been doing" research for the past month".

What can I say instead of "been doing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "have done", "have been working on", or "have engaged in".

Which is correct, "I have been doing" or "I was doing"?

"I have "been doing"" implies an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has just finished. "I was doing" refers to an action in progress at a specific time in the past.

What's the difference between "have been doing" and "had been doing"?

"Have "been doing"" connects the action to the present, while "had "been doing"" describes an action that was in progress before another point in the past.