has been coming

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been coming" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to an action or event that has occurred multiple times in the past and is still continuing in the present. For example, "John has been coming to the office early every day for the past two months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sunday's poll has been coming.

The Guardian

But it has been coming.

Independent

"This has been coming for some time.

The New York Times - Books

Recently, the neighborhood has been coming back.

The New Yorker

"This has been coming for ages".

The New York Times

Nothing has been coming out.

The New York Times

Everyone has been coming through".

The New York Times - Sports

The touchdown has been coming.

The Guardian - Sport

He has been coming back ever since.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It has been coming for a while.

The Guardian

One has been coming for 16 years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been coming" to suggest an event or situation has been developing over a period, making its arrival less surprising. For instance, "The economic downturn has been coming for a while, so businesses should prepare."

Common error

Avoid using "has been coming" for sudden, unexpected events. It's better suited for gradual developments. For example, don't say "The accident has been coming"; instead, say "The accident happened unexpectedly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been coming" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect progressive tense. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and use in English. It signifies an event or situation that started in the past and has been developing or progressing continuously until the present moment. Examples in Ludwig show various contexts where the phrase indicates anticipation or gradual development.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Sport

11%

Lifestyle

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Science

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been coming" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an event or situation that has been gradually developing or progressing over time. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and frequently used across different contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in register, leaning towards informal, it's suitable for professional use when the context allows. Its primary function is to express a lack of surprise due to preceding indicators, lending context to current situations. When employing the phrase, ensure it aligns with the gradual nature of the event, avoiding its use for sudden or unexpected occurrences. Alternative phrases such as "was to be expected" or "has been developing" can provide similar meanings with subtle shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been developing

Focuses on the progression or growth of something over time.

has been approaching

Stresses the movement or progression towards a particular point or event.

was to be expected

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than the process leading up to an event.

was developing

Highlights the development of something over time.

was inevitable

Highlights the certainty of an event's occurrence.

has been brewing

Suggests that something has been developing gradually and secretly.

was on the horizon

Emphasizes the event being anticipated or nearing.

has been looming

Implies a threatening or ominous presence that is gradually becoming more apparent.

was in the works

Indicates that something was being planned or prepared.

was brewing

Implies that something was developing gradually.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been coming" to describe an event or situation that has been developing or progressing over time. For example, "The change in policy "has been coming" for some time now."

What's a more formal way to say "has been coming"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "was anticipated", "was expected", or "was to be expected" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "has been coming" appropriate for describing unexpected events?

No, "has been coming" is typically used to describe events or situations that have been developing gradually over time, not sudden or unexpected occurrences. Consider alternative phrases like "happened suddenly" or "occurred unexpectedly".

What is the difference between "has been coming" and "is coming"?

"Has been coming" implies a process or development over time leading up to the present, whereas "is coming" simply indicates that something will happen in the future. For example, "The storm "is coming"" means it will arrive soon, while "The storm damage "has been coming" for years due to lack of infrastructure investment" suggests neglect has made the area vulnerable.