has been cheap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been cheap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has consistently had a low price over a period of time. Example: "The price of gas has been cheap for the last few months, making it easier for families to travel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Coal has been cheap.

The Economist

Natural gas has been cheap.

The Economist

The 1970s aside, oil has been cheap.

The Economist

But talk has been cheap in recent weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

"Water in California has been cheap and plentiful.

The New York Times

Only the hermit crab has been cheap: food, water and an occasional cage cleaning.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Gas, which has been cheaper this year, has largely filled the gap in recent months.

The Guardian

For most of the country, the result has been cheaper energy.

The New York Times

Libya, too, has been surprisingly bold for a country where petrol has been cheaper than water for a generation.

The Economist

Pattern recognition has a long history within electrical engineering but has recently become much more widespread as the automated capture of signal and images has been cheaper.

Expert Systems with Applications

Filing fees change from time to time but historically, filing online has been cheaper than filing by mail.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a consistent trend of low prices, use "has been cheap" to emphasize the prolonged period of affordability.

Common error

Be mindful of the negative connotations associated with "cheap", such as poor quality. In contexts where quality is important, consider using alternatives like "affordable" or "economical" to avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been cheap" functions as a descriptive statement indicating that something's price has remained low over a period of time. Ludwig AI examples confirm this usage across various contexts, emphasizing sustained affordability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been cheap" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe something that has consistently maintained a low price over time. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various reputable sources, including news outlets and business publications. While the word "cheap" can sometimes carry a negative connotation, the phrase is generally accepted in neutral contexts. When aiming for greater formality, alternatives like "has been affordable" or "has been inexpensive" might be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been inexpensive

Replaces "cheap" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the meaning.

has been affordable

Indicates something is within a reasonable price range, similar to being cheap.

has been low-cost

Directly replaces "cheap" with a compound adjective, preserving the meaning.

has been budget-friendly

Implies something is easy on the budget, similar to being inexpensive.

has been economically priced

More formal phrasing emphasizing the economic advantage of the price.

has been a bargain

Suggests an unexpectedly low price, adding a sense of value.

has been marked down

Indicates a reduction in price, implying it was once more expensive.

has been discounted

Similar to marked down, indicating a price reduction.

has been on sale

Suggests a temporary price reduction, making it cheaper than usual.

has been a steal

Informal way of saying something is surprisingly cheap, implying great value.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been cheap" to describe something that has had a consistently low price over a period of time. For example, "Natural gas "has been cheap" for several years."

What are some alternatives to "has been cheap"?

Alternatives include "has been affordable", "has been inexpensive", or "has been low-cost". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "cheap" in formal writing?

While "cheap" is widely understood, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation. In formal writing, consider using more neutral alternatives like "economical" or "affordable" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "has been cheap" and "is cheap"?

"Has been cheap" implies a trend or duration of low prices, whereas "is cheap" refers to the current price. For example, "Gas "has been cheap" this summer" suggests it was cheap for the entire summer, while "Gas is cheap today" only indicates the price for that specific day.