has been declining

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been declining" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a present perfect continuous verb form and is used to describe an action that started in the past and is continuing into the present. For example: "Rates of unemployment have been declining over the past five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Spending has been declining.

The New York Times

Le Monde's circulation has been declining.

The New York Times

The number of stops has been declining.

The Economist

Manufacturing has been declining for 30 years.

The Economist

East has been declining for years.

The New York Times - Sports

Rail ridership has been declining.

The Washington Post

The population of New Orleans has been declining.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Crime has been declining, especially since 1995.

The New York Times

The fund has been declining since 2001.

The New York Times

Marriage has been declining for years.

The Washington Post

That number has been declining ever since.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been declining", ensure the subject is something that can logically decrease over time, such as "population", "sales", or "interest".

Common error

Avoid using "has been declining" with plural subjects. The correct form for plural subjects is "have been declining". For instance, it's correct to say "The number has been declining," but for multiple numbers, use "The numbers have been declining".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been declining" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action that began in the past and extends to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been declining" is a versatile and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an ongoing decrease or downward trend. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, and its prevalence in news, science, and formal business contexts indicates its widespread applicability. When using this phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and be mindful of the nuances between "has declined" and "has been declining". Considering alternatives like "is decreasing" or "is diminishing" can also enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is falling

Simpler term for decreasing, emphasizing the action of something dropping.

is dropping

An even more basic way to say something is decreasing.

is decreasing

Uses simpler vocabulary, focusing on the present continuous tense to describe the decrease.

is diminishing

Employs a more formal term for decreasing, suggesting a gradual reduction.

shows a reduction

Shifts the focus to the demonstration of a decline, rather than its ongoing nature.

has seen a decrease

Rephrases the concept as an observation of a decrease, changing the sentence structure.

has ebbed

Implies a gradual decline, similar to the tide going out.

is on the wane

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a decline in power or popularity.

is trending downward

Employs business terminology, indicating a negative trend in a specific metric.

is receding

Suggests a movement away or back, often used in contexts of water levels or receding hairlines.

FAQs

How do I use "has been declining" in a sentence?

Use "has been declining" to describe something that started decreasing in the past and continues to decrease. For example, "The company's profits "has been declining" since last year."

What can I say instead of "has been declining"?

You can use alternatives like "is decreasing", "is diminishing", or "is falling" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "has declined" and "has been declining"?

"Has declined" indicates a completed action, while "has been declining" suggests an ongoing process. "The population has declined" means it decreased at some point, whereas "The population "has been declining"" implies it's still decreasing.

Is it correct to say "have been declining" instead of "has been declining"?

Yes, but only with plural subjects. "Have been declining" is used when referring to multiple items or a plural subject. For example, "Sales have been declining", while "The number "has been declining"".