has been containing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been containing" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where something has been holding or including something else over a period of time. Example: "The container has been containing the chemicals safely for several months without any leaks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Turkey's army has been containing the Kurdish rebellion in south-eastern Turkey, where most of the country's 15m or so Kurds live.

The Economist

According to Pollack, Washington has been containing Iran in this way since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and should continue to do so regardless of its nuclear status.

The New York Times - Books

In addition, the water from the well has been containing unusually high concentrations of nitrate (53 138 mg/L)—much higher than permissible limit for drinking water supply while the river water had much lower concentrations (0.3 4.2 mg/L).

Journal of Hydrology

That happened in Lithuania, which was hit by the disease in 2014 and has been containing it ever since.

BBC

Mu3 strain has been isolated from an old man with pneumonia who did not give any response to vancomycin therapy, although MIC of Mu3 was 4 mg/L it has been containing a mutant subpopulation of cells having intermediate resistance to vancomycin (MIC 8 mg/L).

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But the mayhem has been contained.

The New York Times - Travel

That's not serious when only 22percentt has been contained.

The New York Times

But Ms. Mangino reports that the smoke has been contained.

The New York Times

5.30pm: Phew, the Wimbledon Zombie Pandemic has been contained.

The Guardian - Sport

"The situation has been contained," Officer Nabakooba said.

The New York Times

Blight has been contained, remedied and reversed in other places.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been containing" when you want to emphasize that something has been actively holding or including something else over a period of time, especially when the container itself is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "has been containing" in overly passive constructions that obscure the actor. Instead, focus on who or what is doing the containing to create more direct and engaging sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been containing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that began in the past and is ongoing. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correct grammatical structure, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been containing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an ongoing action of containing, found primarily in news and scientific contexts. While not exceedingly common, Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. When writing, be mindful of potential passive constructions and consider more direct alternatives to enhance clarity. Keep in mind that its alternatives as "has been holding" or "has been including".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been holding

Focuses on the physical act of holding rather than the broader sense of controlling or including.

has been including

Emphasizes the act of including something within a larger set or group.

has been controlling

Highlights the act of maintaining control over something, often in a restrictive manner.

has been keeping in check

Highlights the act of maintaining something under control.

has been limiting

Implies a restriction or boundary being maintained.

has been encompassing

Focuses on including a wide range of elements.

has been curbing

Suggests an effort to restrain or reduce something.

has been restricting

Implies a deliberate limitation being imposed.

has been managing

Focuses on the administration or handling of a situation or resource.

has been suppressing

Emphasizes the act of preventing something from developing or being expressed.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been containing" to describe something that has held or included something else over time. For example: "The dam "has been containing" the floodwaters effectively for weeks".

What are some alternatives to "has been containing"?

Alternatives include "has been holding", "has been including", or "has been limiting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "has been containing" versus "has contained"?

"Has been containing" implies a continuous action over a period, while "has contained" suggests a completed action. For example, "The study "has been containing" new data weekly" (ongoing) versus "The study "has contained" all relevant data" (completed).

Is "has been containing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "has been containing" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "contain", indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present.