has been confusing

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been confusing" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the present perfect tense form of the verb "to confuse" and can be used to describe something that has been confusing in the past and continues to be unclear or ambiguous in the present. Example: The new company policy has been confusing for many employees as it is constantly changing and lacks clear guidelines.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But his message has been confusing.

The New York Times

"And that has been confusing for consumers," she said.

The New York Times

Keeping track of electronic records has been confusing, and a little overwhelming.

The New Yorker

Mr. Lerner said that the I.R.S.'s handling of the work has been confusing.

The New York Times - Arts

"Cooking this family food in a professional environment has been confusing for me," he said.

The New York Times - Food

By all accounts, the transfer process has been confusing for parents.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Everyone I've spoken to has been confused.

The Guardian

"But the operational objectives have been confused, the chain of command has been confused, the message has been confused, and the results have been just what you would expect".

The New York Times

Galchenko has been confused when in the past Americans complain about having "low self-esteem".

The New York Times - Sports

"Too often autonomy at a political level has been confused with professional autonomy," said Tierney.

The Guardian

But intellectual rigour has been confused with physical or mental fitness.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been confusing", ensure the context clearly identifies what is causing the confusion. Providing specific details can help avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been confusing" without specifying what "it" refers to. Always clarify the subject to prevent further misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been confusing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an ongoing state of causing confusion that started in the past and continues into the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been confusing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase indicating an ongoing state of causing confusion. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to be employed across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Scientific domains. While generally neutral in tone, clarity is crucial when deploying this phrase; ensure the subject of confusion is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "has been unclear" or "has been perplexing" can add nuance, but the core message remains the same: a lack of understanding persists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been unclear

Replaces "confusing" with "unclear", focusing on the lack of clarity or distinctness.

has been ambiguous

Substitutes "confusing" with "ambiguous", highlighting the presence of multiple possible meanings or interpretations.

has been perplexing

Replaces "confusing" with "perplexing", indicating something is puzzling or difficult to understand.

has been baffling

Substitutes "confusing" with "baffling", suggesting something is highly perplexing and difficult to grasp.

has been difficult to understand

Expresses the confusing nature by focusing on the difficulty in comprehending something.

has lacked clarity

Emphasizes the absence of clarity rather than directly stating something is confusing.

has muddled the issue

Indicates that something has made the issue less clear and more confusing.

has obscured the meaning

Focuses on the act of hiding or making the meaning less apparent.

has introduced uncertainty

Highlights the introduction of doubt and lack of certainty, contributing to confusion.

has complicated matters

Suggests that something has made the situation more intricate and harder to understand.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been confusing" to describe a situation, concept, or set of instructions that have caused misunderstanding or difficulty in comprehension. For example, "The new policy /s/has+been+confusing for many employees".

What are some alternatives to "has been confusing"?

Alternatives include "has been unclear", "has been ambiguous", or "has been perplexing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "has been confusing" or "is confusing"?

"Has been confusing" implies the confusion started in the past and continues to the present. "Is confusing" suggests the confusion is happening now. The choice depends on whether the confusion has a history or is only a present issue.

What's the difference between "has been confusing" and "has been confused"?

"Has been confusing" means something is causing confusion. "Has been confused" means someone is in a state of confusion. For example, "The instructions have been confusing" versus "The student has been confused by the instructions".