has been cutting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been cutting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been cutting vegetables for the salad since this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But Mexico has been cutting down.

The Economist

Like many places, San Francisco has been cutting its budget.

The New York Times

Central bank has been cutting rates to boost growth.

Independent

Meanwhile, the school district has been cutting its spending.

The New York Times

So Don Pancho has been cutting Edison with white flour.

The New York Times - Magazine

Hostility toward bigness has been cutting across party lines.

The New Yorker

Like carmakers across the world, BMW has been cutting back.

The New York Times

The company has been cutting staff aggressively for several years.

The New York Times

The company has been cutting jobs and spending.

The New York Times

But the parent studio has been cutting employees.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Pennsylvania has been cutting spending on higher education since 2007, under former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing budget reductions, consider the impact and use synonyms like "reducing" or "trimming" to convey nuance, rather than always using "has been cutting".

Common error

Avoid using "has been cutting" when a more precise verb would better describe the action. For example, instead of "The company has been cutting staff", specify if they are "laying off" or "furloughing" employees.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been cutting" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that started in the past and is ongoing or has recently ceased, as shown by Ludwig in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been cutting" is a versatile present perfect continuous verb phrase widely used to describe ongoing or recently completed actions of reduction or removal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While it's generally neutral in register, careful consideration of synonyms like "has been reducing" or "has been trimming" can add nuance to your writing. Understanding the ongoing nature implied by "has been cutting" is key to using it effectively and avoiding potential misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been reducing

Emphasizes a gradual decrease or lessening, differing from the potentially abrupt nature of "cutting".

has been trimming

Suggests a careful and precise reduction, often implying improvement or refinement.

has been diminishing

Focuses on a gradual fading or lessening in size, importance, or intensity.

has been decreasing

Implies a quantifiable reduction, often used in statistical or numerical contexts.

has been curtailing

Suggests a restriction or limitation, often imposed externally or by policy.

has been slashing

Conveys a more aggressive and sudden reduction, often in costs or budgets.

has been pruning

Similar to trimming, but often used in the context of removing unnecessary elements for better growth or efficiency.

has been shaving

Indicates a very slight or minimal reduction, almost imperceptible.

has been lopping off

Suggests a crude or forceful removal of something.

has been whittling down

Implies a gradual reduction through repeated small cuts or adjustments.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "has been cutting"?

You can use alternatives like "has been reducing", "has been trimming", or "has been decreasing" depending on the specific context.

How does "has been cutting" differ from "has cut"?

"Has been cutting" implies a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing, while "has cut" indicates a completed action with relevance to the present.

Is "has been cutting" formal or informal?

The phrase "has been cutting" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more precise vocabulary might be preferable in formal writing.

Can "has been cutting" be used in all tenses?

No, "has been cutting" is a present perfect continuous tense. To use it in other tenses, you'd need to adjust the auxiliary verbs (e.g., "had been cutting" for past perfect continuous, "will be cutting" for future continuous).