discussions have been ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discussions have been ongoing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that conversations or negotiations are currently taking place and have not yet concluded. Example: "The discussions have been ongoing for several weeks, and we hope to reach a resolution soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Blackburn and the player's agent have revealed that discussions have been ongoing between the two parties.

The Guardian - Sport

Discussions have been ongoing for several months on how to deal with the backlog.

The New York Times

Dudley replies that these discussions have been ongoing for months and are not related to the Gulf spill.

The Guardian - Business

"Discussions have been ongoing in an effort to resolve criminal penalties under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act related to the promotion of Risperdal," Johnson & Johnson said.

The New York Times

Discussions have been ongoing between the league and the Players Association for months about changing the age limit from where it currently stands — 19 years old and a year removed from high school for domestic players; 19 years old for international players — to 18 years old, which would return the league to the days of players jumping straight from high school to the NBA.

The Washington Post

"Discussions have been ongoing for some time.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"With the positive trend in the external environment in financial markets and improvement in general liquidity, these arrangements have been and are expected to be concluded without necessitating guarantees from the UK government, for which discussions had been ongoing for some time," said the company.

The Guardian - Business

Discussions had been ongoing during the latter stages of the Test surrounding his leadership, until it was revealed late on the Sunday that Botham would be in charge for the Lord's Test, although again he was not given any further backing than the next game only.

The Guardian - Sport

But discussions had been ongoing with the UK government prior to the introduction of new law-making powers for the National Assembly, following the 2011 referendum in Wales.

BBC

The MoD spokesman said that discussions had been ongoing with the police, the local authority and the owners of the building for six months.

BBC

Discussions had been ongoing until recently between Fox and the production company, Columbia TriStar Television, regarding a spinoff series or occasional specials next season.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discussions have been ongoing", specify the duration or frequency to provide context, such as "discussions have been ongoing for several months" or "discussions have been ongoing on a weekly basis."

Common error

Avoid vague usage; clarify the subject of the "discussions" to prevent ambiguity. Instead of simply stating "discussions have been ongoing", specify what the discussions pertain to, for example, "discussions about the new policy have been ongoing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discussions have been ongoing" serves as a descriptive statement, indicating that a series of conversations or deliberations are currently in progress and have not reached a conclusion. This is supported by examples found by Ludwig, where the phrase is used to describe ongoing negotiations or talks in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "discussions have been ongoing" is a grammatically sound and neutrally formal expression used to convey that a series of conversations or negotiations are currently in progress. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While it's generally acceptable, providing specific details about the discussions can enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "talks have been in progress" or "negotiations have been underway" can offer variety, but it's essential to choose the option that best fits the context. It's also worth mentioning that, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

talks have been in progress

Replaces "discussions" with "talks" and uses "in progress" instead of "ongoing", emphasizing the activity rather than its continuous nature.

deliberations have been continuing

Substitutes "discussions" with "deliberations" and replaces "ongoing" with "continuing", suggesting a more formal and thoughtful process.

negotiations have been underway

Replaces "discussions" with "negotiations" and uses "underway" in place of "ongoing", focusing on the active conduct of discussions.

consultations have been proceeding

Uses "consultations" instead of "discussions" and "proceeding" instead of "ongoing", implying a structured and forward-moving dialogue.

dialogue has been sustained

Replaces the entire phrase to emphasize the continuation of a "dialogue" over time, rather than just describing it as ongoing.

conversations have been proceeding

Swaps "discussions" for the more casual "conversations" and "ongoing" for "proceeding", suggesting a less formal but still active exchange.

exchanges have been continuing

Uses "exchanges" instead of "discussions" to emphasize the reciprocal nature of the communication, maintaining the sense of continuity.

interactions have been sustained

Replaces "discussions" with "interactions" to broaden the scope to any form of communication, highlighting the maintenance of these interactions.

communications have been maintained

Focuses on the "communications" aspect, suggesting that the key element is keeping the lines of communication open, rather than the specific content of discussions.

liaison has been continuous

Emphasizes the maintenance of "liaison" or connection, replacing the idea of specific discussions with the broader concept of an ongoing relationship.

FAQs

What does "discussions have been ongoing" mean?

The phrase "discussions have been ongoing" means that conversations or negotiations are currently taking place and have not yet concluded. It indicates a process that is in progress.

How can I use "discussions have been ongoing" in a sentence?

You might say, "The "negotiations" between the two companies have been ongoing for several weeks, with no resolution in sight".

What are some alternatives to "discussions have been ongoing"?

You can use alternatives such as "talks have been in progress", "deliberations have been continuing", or "negotiations have been underway".

Is "discussions are ongoing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "discussions are ongoing" is grammatically correct. It is a shorter, more direct way of saying "discussions have been ongoing".