has been building

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been building" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or process that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "The excitement for the upcoming concert has been building for weeks among the fans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The scorn has been building.

The New York Times

This has been building for some time".

The New York Times

Unhappiness has been building in Galicia, too.

The New York Times

Pressure has been building for a while.

The Economist

Title elongation has been building for years.

The New York Times

But resentment has been building up.

The Economist

Not surprisingly, public anger has been building.

The Economist

The pressure has been building at Pepsi.

The New York Times

Pressure on Ai has been building.

The New Yorker

Resentment has been building.

The New York Times

Kingsolver has been building up to this.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been building" to describe a process that started in the past and is still ongoing. For instance, "The anticipation for the new movie has been building for months."

Common error

Avoid using "has been building" when referring to a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past perfect continuous tense (had been building) or the simple past tense (built).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been building" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that began in the past and is still in progress or has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI provides many examples showcasing its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been building" is a versatile present perfect continuous construction used to describe ongoing processes of development and accumulation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse sources, primarily in News & Media and Academia. When using this phrase, ensure you are referring to an action that began in the past and is still relevant or continuing in the present. Ludwig also suggests that while alternatives such as "has been developing" or "has been growing" exist, they should be selected carefully based on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been developing

Replaces "building" with "developing", emphasizing a process of growth or unfolding.

has been constructing

Similar to building, but can imply a more deliberate or complex process.

has been growing

Substitutes "building" with "growing", highlighting an increase in size or extent.

has been increasing

Emphasizes a quantitative rise rather than a structural development.

has been escalating

Suggests a rapid or intensified form of building, often implying conflict or tension.

has been accumulating

Focuses on the gradual gathering or amassing of something.

has been intensifying

Highlights an increase in strength or force over time.

has been progressing

Indicates a forward movement or advancement in a process.

has been forming

Emphasizes the creation or shaping of something over time.

has been amassing

Similar to accumulating, but often implies a larger scale or volume.

FAQs

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

Use "has been building" to describe something that started in the past and continues to develop or grow in the present. For example, "The company's reputation "has been building" steadily over the years".

What are some alternatives to "has been building"?

You can use alternatives like "has been developing", "has been growing", or "has been increasing" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "has been building" and "had been building"?

"Has been building" describes a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. "Had been building" describes a continuous action that was ongoing in the past before another past action occurred.

Is it correct to say "the tension has been building up"?

Yes, "the tension "has been building up"" is a correct and common way to express that tension has been gradually increasing over time.