has been calling

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been calling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a continuous action that started in the past but is still happening. For example, "She has been calling me every day this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He has been calling intermittently ever since.

The New Yorker

Israel has been calling for direct negotiations without preconditions.

The New York Times

Germany has been calling loudly for greater fiscal prudence.

The Economist

We know Abbott has been calling backbenchers for quiet chats.

The Guardian

Amnesty International has been calling for his release.

The Guardian

For a while now, West Africa has been calling me.

The Guardian - Travel

CAAB has been calling for this for many years.

The Guardian

Israel has been calling for a return to talks without preconditions.

The New York Times

He has been calling in favours from supreme-court judges and congressional deputies.

The Economist

ILLINOIS has been calling itself "the land of Lincoln" for decades.

The Economist

The England bowling coach Ottis Gibson has been calling no balls in practice this week.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been calling" to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present, especially when emphasizing the duration or repetition of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "has been calling" to describe a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past simple tense (e.g., "called") for finished actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been calling" functions as a present perfect continuous verb form. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. Ludwig provides several examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been calling" is a present perfect continuous verb form used to describe actions that began in the past and continue to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "has been contacting" or "has been phoning" exist, "has been calling" is a versatile and effective choice for emphasizing the ongoing nature of an action. Remember to avoid using it for completed actions in the past and to select the appropriate tense to accurately reflect the timing of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been contacting

Replaces "calling" with a more general term for communication.

has been phoning

Substitutes "calling" with a more specific synonym, emphasizing phone communication.

has been telephoning

Uses a formal version of "phoning", maintaining the core meaning.

has been ringing

Emphasizes the act of initiating a call, similar to "calling".

has been reaching out to

Replaces "calling" with a broader term suggesting an attempt to connect.

has been getting in touch with

Offers a more conversational alternative for "calling", indicating connection attempts.

has been petitioning

Suggests a formal and repeated request, different from a casual call.

has been summoning

Implies an authoritative call or request to appear, differing in tone and context.

has advocated for

Indicates persistent public support, shifting the focus from direct communication to public promotion.

has been urging

Expresses repeated and insistent encouragement, rather than a simple call.

FAQs

How to use "has been calling" in a sentence?

Use "has been calling" to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. For instance, "The customer service representative "has been calling" me every day this week to follow up on my inquiry".

What can I say instead of "has been calling"?

You can use alternatives like "has been contacting", "has been phoning", or "has been reaching out to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been calling" or "called"?

"Has been calling" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "Called" refers to a completed action in the past. Choose the tense that accurately reflects the timing of the action.

What's the difference between "has been calling" and "was calling"?

"Has been calling" connects the action to the present, implying it's still happening or has just stopped. "Was calling" describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past and has finished.