has been attempting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been attempting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing effort or action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been attempting to learn Spanish for the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Golden Boy has been attempting to re-build its company.

The Guardian - Sport

"Sister Johnson has been attempting to push Catholic thinking along new paths.

The New York Times

Meanwhile the KPK has been attempting to track down another corruption suspect, Nunun Nurbaeti.

The Economist

Most recently Crimea has been attempting to set one up.These innovators give blueprints Scotland could follow.

The Economist

GE said it has been attempting to move away from "slower growth and more volatile businesses".

The Economist

Mr Dyke has been attempting to fill the new post since April.

The Guardian

For more than 50 years, this court has been attempting to draw these lines...

The New York Times

And, like Yahoo, Microsoft has been attempting to muscle in on Google's strong revenue growth.

The New York Times

The UN, though, has been attempting in vain to produce a definition of terrorism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bedford has been attempting for several years to provide housing for older people.

The New York Times

China is not the only way Russia has been attempting to diversify economically.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been attempting" to describe an ongoing action or effort that began in the past and continues to the present. Ensure the context clearly indicates both the initiation and continuation of the attempt.

Common error

Avoid using "has been attempting" to describe completed actions. Use past tenses like "attempted" or "tried" for actions that have already finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been attempting" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and continues into the present. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is frequently used in various contexts to describe ongoing efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been attempting" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to describe ongoing efforts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. Alternatives like "has been trying" offer similar meanings, while others such as "has been endeavoring" can provide a more formal tone. When using "has been attempting", ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and avoid confusing it with completed actions. By understanding its nuances, you can effectively communicate ongoing efforts in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been trying

This alternative is more general and commonly used, suitable for informal contexts.

has been striving

This implies a sustained and potentially difficult effort towards a goal.

has been endeavoring

This option is more formal and suggests a serious or determined effort.

has been working towards

This indicates progress and effort focused on achieving a specific outcome.

has been seeking

This suggests looking for something, whether tangible or intangible, with effort.

has aimed to

This emphasizes intention and purpose in the attempted action.

has set out to

This implies a deliberate and intentional start to an action or effort.

has undertaken to

This suggests a formal commitment to a task or goal.

has purposed to

This implies a determined and resolved intention to complete the action.

has striven for

This implies a sustained and determined effort towards an aspirational goal.

FAQs

How can I use "has been attempting" in a sentence?

Use "has been attempting" to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. For example, "The company "has been attempting to develop" a new product for years."

What are some alternatives to "has been attempting"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been trying", "has been endeavoring", or "has been striving depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been attempting" or "attempted"?

"Has been attempting" describes an ongoing effort, while "attempted" describes a completed action. Use "has been attempting" when the effort is still in progress.

What's the difference between "has been attempting" and "has tried"?

"Has been attempting" suggests a more persistent and continuous effort compared to "has tried", which may indicate a single or limited number of attempts. If the task is still in progress, use "has been attempting".