has been

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that started in the past and continues to the present. For example: "She has been living in the same house for the past 10 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

has been.

The New Yorker

Inaction has been catastrophic.

The New York Times

Compensation has been meagre.

The Economist

And he has been.

Independent

Nobody has been arrested.

Independent

"Everything has been stopped".

The New York Times

He has been demoted.

The Economist

Adoption has been fast.

The New York Times

Brady has been good.

The New York Times

Progress has been good.

The New Yorker

Tuchman has been supplanted.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been" to connect a past action or state to its present relevance. This helps to create a sense of continuity and impact over time.

Common error

Avoid using "has been" when you need to indicate an action completed before another point in the past. In such cases, "had been" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "has been" is to form the present perfect continuous or passive voice. It indicates an action or state that began in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to form the present perfect continuous or passive voice, indicating a connection between a past action or state and the present. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely employed in news and media contexts. When writing, remember to use "has been" to connect past events to their present relevance, but avoid confusing it with "had been", which refers to actions completed before another point in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was

A simpler past tense form, lacking the implication of ongoing relevance to the present.

had been

Indicates a past perfect state, occurring before another point in the past.

has occurred

Focuses on the occurrence of an event, rather than a continuous state.

has transpired

Implies a more significant or formal event.

has taken place

Similar to "has occurred", but slightly more formal.

has come to pass

A more literary or old-fashioned way of saying something has happened.

has developed

Suggests a process of growth or evolution.

has materialized

Indicates something that was previously uncertain has now become real.

has unfolded

Suggests a gradual revelation or unfolding of events.

is

A present tense form, indicating a current state without reference to the past.

FAQs

How do I use "has been" correctly in a sentence?

Use "has been" to describe an action or state that started in the past and continues to have relevance or effect in the present. For example, "She "has been working" here for five years".

What's the difference between "has been" and "had been"?

"Has been" connects a past action to the present, while "had been" refers to an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "He "has been sick"" (and still is), versus "He "had been sick" before the trip" (but is now recovered).

When should I use "was" instead of "has been"?

Use "was" when describing a completed action or state in the past that has no direct connection to the present. "He "was there"" implies a past event without ongoing relevance, unlike "He "has been there"", which could imply experience or a continuing state.

What are some alternatives to "has been" for variety in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "occurred", "transpired", or rephrase the sentence to use a simple past tense. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.