been in existence

USAGE SUMMARY

"been in existence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has existed for a certain period of time or is still present. For example, "The university has been in existence for more than a hundred years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's been in existence since 1973.

The New Yorker

The home has been in existence since 1869.

The New Yorker

"It's been in existence for 90 years.

The New York Times

It has been in existence since1906.

The New Yorker

This holiday has been in existence since 1879.

The Guardian - Opinion

The RSM has been in existence for 200 years.

The Guardian

The site has been in existence about a year.

The New York Times - Tech

The Florida Marlins have been in existence for ten years.

The New Yorker

The Old Homestead has been in existence since about 1820.

The New Yorker

THE virus has been in existence for decades.

The New York Times

As a material, linoleum had been in existence since 1860.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the age of an institution or organization, using the phrase "been in existence" adds a touch of formality and emphasizes the continuous nature of its operation. For example: "The university has "been in existence" for over a century."

Common error

Avoid using "being in existence" when "been in existence" is required. The former is grammatically incorrect in most contexts where the latter is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been in existence" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating the state of something having existed for a period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound. The provided examples show its common usage in describing the duration of various entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been in existence" is a grammatically correct and frequently used way to express the duration of something's being. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is commonly found in neutral to professional contexts such as news, science, and formal business writing. While there are more informal alternatives like ""been around"", "been in existence" provides a more formal and precise way to convey the age or longevity of an entity. Common errors include incorrect tense usage, where "being in existence" is mistakenly used instead. Remember to use "been in existence" when indicating how long something has existed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has existed

Emphasizes the fact of existence itself, omitting the duration.

has been around

More informal, implying a prolonged presence or familiarity.

has been extant

A more formal way of saying something has existed.

has prevailed

Suggests a continuous presence, often in the face of challenges.

has been established

Focuses on the act of setting up or founding something.

dates back to

Highlights the origin or starting point of something's existence.

has been operational

Highlights the functioning or working state of something.

has been active

Indicates a state of being engaged or performing actions.

has a history

Highlights the existence of a past or historical record.

has a lifespan

Focuses on the duration of existence, often with a defined end.

FAQs

How can I use "been in existence" in a sentence?

You can use "been in existence" to describe how long something has existed, for example, "The company has "been in existence" for 50 years" or "The tradition has "been around" for centuries".

What is a formal alternative to "been in existence"?

A formal alternative to "been in existence" is "has existed". It's suitable for academic or professional contexts where precision is important.

What's the difference between "been in place" and "been in existence"?

"Been in existence" refers to the duration of something's being, whereas "been in place" implies that something has been established or implemented and remains active.

Is it correct to say "being in existence" instead of "been in existence"?

No, "being in existence" is generally incorrect when you want to express duration. "Been in existence" is the correct form. However, "being in existence" might be correct in philosophical or abstract contexts.