has banned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has banned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a prohibition has been enacted in the present perfect tense, often referring to a recent action with ongoing relevance. Example: "The government has banned the use of plastic bags to reduce environmental pollution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It has banned smoking at hospital entrances.

The New York Times

The city of Kongstad has banned art.

The New York Times

France has banned it, as has Bulgaria.

The New York Times

He has banned the most notorious.

The Economist

The central bank has banned this practice.

The Economist

France's parliament has banned therapeutic cloning.

The Economist

"Botswana has banned hunting entirely.

The Guardian

Canada has banned BPA from children's products.

The New York Times

This year the state has banned the lot.

The Economist

Greece has banned almost all repossessions since 2008.

The Economist

Now the WBC has banned Broner.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has banned", ensure the subject clearly identifies who or what is enacting the ban, and the object specifies what is being banned for clear communication.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly defining the scope of the ban. For example, instead of saying "The school has banned phones", specify "The school has banned the use of smartphones during class hours" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has banned" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that an action of prohibiting or forbidding something has been completed and has a current relevance. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is commonly used to express that something has been officially prohibited.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has banned" is a verb phrase in the present perfect tense used to indicate that an action of prohibiting something has occurred and has ongoing relevance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media contexts. It's crucial to clearly define who is enacting the ban and what is being banned to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "prohibited", "outlawed", and "forbidden" exist, "has banned" provides a straightforward and neutral way to communicate a prohibition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibited

Simple synonym indicating something is not allowed.

forbid

Simple synonym indicating something is not allowed.

outlawed

Indicates something has been made illegal.

made illegal

Similar to outlawed, focusing on the act of making something illegal.

declared illegal

More formal way of saying something is outlawed.

imposed a ban on

Highlights the action of imposing a prohibition.

put a stop to

Informal way of indicating that something has been halted.

placed restrictions on

Implies limitations rather than complete prohibition.

ruled out

Indicates something has been excluded or prevented.

blocked

Suggests prevention of access or activity.

FAQs

How to use "has banned" in a sentence?

Use "has banned" to indicate that an entity has prohibited something, for example, "The city "has banned" single-use plastics".

What can I say instead of "has banned"?

You can use alternatives like "has prohibited", "has outlawed", or "has forbidden" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has banned" or "banned"?

"Has banned" is present perfect tense, indicating a recent action with ongoing relevance. "Banned" is simple past tense. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the ongoing effect of the ban.

What's the difference between "has banned" and "has restricted"?

"Has banned" implies a complete prohibition, while "has restricted" suggests limitations or conditions rather than a total ban.