been doing since

USAGE SUMMARY

"been doing since" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when discussing an action that someone has been engaged in for a period of time. Example: "I've been teaching English since 2010."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What has Keeler been doing since?

Independent

GAZETTE: What have you been doing since?

Harvard University

What has he been doing since?

The Guardian - Music

What has Tony been doing since then?

The Guardian - Film

What have you been doing since then?

The New York Times - Magazine

What have you been doing since leaving the White House?

Princeton University

2. What have you been doing since you left MIT?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What have you been doing since you got back?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What he had been doing since his graduation in 1968.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Little has been done since.

The Economist

Little new work has been done since.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been doing since", ensure the tense in the first part of the sentence matches the time frame you are referencing. For example, "What have you been doing since you graduated?" uses the present perfect continuous to inquire about activities from a past event until now.

Common error

Avoid using simple past tense with "been doing since" when referring to an ongoing activity. For example, instead of saying "What did you been doing since yesterday?", use "What have you been doing since yesterday?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been doing since" primarily functions as part of a question or statement inquiring about or describing activities that have taken place from a specific point in the past up to the present moment. Ludwig provides many examples of this usage across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been doing since" is a versatile and common phrase used to inquire about or describe activities that have taken place from a specific time in the past until the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and everyday conversations. Understanding its correct usage, especially in relation to tense, can improve clarity in both written and spoken communication. Related phrases, such as "what has transpired since" or "what's been happening since", can offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate the diverse contexts in which this phrase is effectively used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what's been happening since

Emphasizes ongoing events or developments after a certain point.

what has transpired since

Focuses on events that have occurred since a specific time, rather than actions.

how has one spent time since

Focuses on how someone has used their time from a particular moment.

what one has undertaken since

Emphasizes personal initiatives and projects started after a time.

what has one engaged in since

It's a more formal way to ask what activities someone has done after a certain moment.

what has filled the time since

Focuses on how someone's time has been occupied after an event.

activities since

Highlights the activities carried out from a specified moment.

what has occupied one since

It's a formal way to ask what has kept someone busy since a moment in time.

progress since

Highlights the progress made on something from a specified moment.

what they've busied themselves with since

Specifies what activities someone has involved themselves in since a moment in time.

FAQs

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

Use "been doing since" to inquire about activities or states that have continued from a specific point in the past until the present. For example, "What have you been doing since the last time we met?"

What are some alternative phrases to "been doing since"?

Alternatives include "what has transpired since", "what's been happening since", or "what one has undertaken since", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "What you been doing since"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The auxiliary verb "have" or "has" is required before "been". The correct phrasing is "What have you been doing since?" or "What has he been doing since?"

Can "been doing since" be used to talk about future events?

No, "been doing since" is used to describe activities or states that started in the past and continue until the present. It is not appropriate for describing future events.