has been failing

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been failing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to an action that has been occurring and continuing up to the present. For example: "The student has been failing his math classes since the start of the school year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The peace process has been failing and will continue to fail for several reasons.

BBC

The United States Welfare System, in its current state, has been failing for many years and continues to fail.

Huffington Post

Education for urban kids has been failing for decades.

The New York Times

Mr. Mayor, opera's business model has been failing for centuries.

The New Yorker

Cano is not the only Yankee who has been failing in such situations.

The New York Times

It has been failing its citizens in this way long before it dreamt up "austerity".

The Guardian - Opinion

Surprisingly, it's the company that has been failing with the smartphone that may be the furthest ahead: Microsoft.

The New York Times

It has been on the Renault engine since about 2005 and it has been failing since 2005 as well".

BBC

But it's not a lone symptom: Mr. Perry has been failing at this presidential thing almost since he started.

The New York Times

The system has been failing for some time and was delivered a serious blow earlier this year.

The Guardian - Opinion

She had a heart attack, and her vision has been failing, making her leery of using the stove.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been failing" to describe ongoing processes or systems that are not meeting expectations or achieving desired outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "has been failing" without providing specific examples or data to support the claim. Overgeneralizations can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been failing" functions as a present perfect progressive verb phrase. It describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present. According to Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

13%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been failing" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that started failing in the past and continues to do so in the present. It's frequently used in news and media, as well as academic writing, to express criticism or concern. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase to indicate ongoing ineffectiveness. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific details and evidence to support the claim, avoiding overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "is not succeeding" or "is declining" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not succeeding

Focuses on the lack of success rather than the ongoing process of failing.

is declining

Emphasizes the downward trend or deterioration.

is underperforming

Highlights a failure to meet expectations or standards.

has not been working

Indicates that a method or system is ineffective.

is proving inadequate

Stresses the insufficiency or unsuitability of something.

has been deteriorating

Focuses on the process of worsening or decaying.

is not measuring up

Highlights the inability to reach a required standard.

is losing ground

Suggests a loss of progress or competitive advantage.

is on the decline

Implies a gradual decrease in quality, performance, or importance.

is falling short

Emphasizes the inability to reach a desired goal or standard.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been failing" to describe something that is not meeting expectations or is experiencing a decline. For example: "The peace process "has been failing" for several reasons."

What are some alternatives to "has been failing"?

Alternatives include "is not succeeding", "is declining", or "is underperforming", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been failed" instead of "has been failing"?

No, "has been failed" is not grammatically correct in this context. "Has been failing" indicates an ongoing process of failure, while "has been failed" would imply that something has been subjected to failure, which is not the intended meaning.

What is the difference between "has been failing" and "is failing"?

"Has been failing" indicates that the failure has been ongoing for some time, while "is failing" suggests that the failure is happening in the present moment. The former emphasizes the duration of the failure.