has been engaging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been engaging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing a situation that has been ongoing for some time, or when referring to a person or thing that has been occupied. Example: The teacher has been engaging the class with interactive activities for the past hour.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has been engaging in bigotry and bluster and bullying.

The Guardian

For its part, the Fed has been engaging in monetary stimulus.

The New York Times

To prepare, Hillary has been engaging in what she calls "preventative maintenance".

The New Yorker

For over 20 years, Cardboard Citizens has been engaging with hard-to-reach audiences.

The Guardian

Toward that end, Sony has been engaging in its own game of specmanship.

The New York Times

In the months since leaving Groupon, Mr. Mason has been engaging in some "cliched pursuits of the unemployed," he said.

The New York Times

Along with his hunting companion Charlie Munger, Buffett has been engaging in a mergers and acquisitions quest for "an elephant".

The New York Times

Most recently, he has been engaging in the forging of Nissan's Silicon Valley research center since 2011.

Stanford University

In his defence, Harris has been engaging with issues on which he has a long track record.

The Guardian

Senator McCain has been engaging Mr. Obama all week as if he is the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, he said, "This confirms the argument we've been making that the F.T.C. has been engaging in regulatory imperialism".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been engaging" to describe ongoing, active participation or involvement in a particular activity or area. It's best suited when the activity is not just a one-time event but a continuous process.

Common error

Avoid using "has been engaging" to describe activities that have already concluded. It's more appropriate to use "engaged in" for past, completed actions. For example, use "engaged in a discussion" instead of "has been engaging in a discussion" if the discussion is over.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been engaging" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

27%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been engaging" is a grammatically sound and frequently used present perfect continuous verb phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing needs. When employing this phrase, ensure it accurately portrays ongoing activities and is not mistakenly used for completed ones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been involved in

Replaces "engaging" with "involved", focusing on participation rather than active interaction. It implies a more passive role.

has participated in

Highlights participation in a specific event or activity, differing from a continuous process.

has been working on

Emphasizes effort and progress, suggesting a project or task in progress.

has undertaken

Implies beginning a formal process and shows commitment, instead of only involvement.

has dedicated time to

Emphasizes commitment and effort towards an activity, offering a more specific focus.

has committed to

Highlights dedication and responsibility toward something, suggesting less of an interaction.

has devoted energy to

Emphasizes the investment of effort and enthusiasm, differing from simple participation.

has busied oneself with

Suggests active involvement but with a focus on keeping oneself occupied, implying less impact.

has occupied oneself with

Focuses more on filling time rather than active contribution, implying less impact.

has concerned oneself with

Implies a focus on a topic due to worry or interest rather than active work, suggesting a less productive activity.

FAQs

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

Use "has been engaging" to describe an ongoing activity or process. For example, "The company "has been engaging" with customers through social media to improve its brand image".

What are some alternatives to "has been engaging"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "has been involved in", "has participated in", or "has been working on" to convey a similar meaning.

What's the difference between "has been engaging" and "engaged in"?

"Has been engaging" describes an action that is currently in progress, while "engaged in" describes a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been engaging" with the community all year" (ongoing), versus "She "engaged in" volunteer work last summer" (completed).

Is it correct to say "have had been engaging"?

The phrase "have had been engaging" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "has been engaging" for singular subjects or "have been engaging" for plural subjects. See also: /s/have+had+been+engaging