has been falling behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been falling behind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is not keeping up with progress or standards over a period of time. Example: "The company has been falling behind its competitors in terms of innovation and market share."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Mr. Simpson said the city is supposed to be providing money and technical support to upgrade those systems but has been falling behind on that schedule.

The New York Times

It seems that America has been falling behind in the "competition of liberalisation" that Robert Zoellick, the president's trade representative, hoped to encourage by pursuing free trade on bilateral, regional and global levels, all at the same time.

The Economist

Telling yourself that it's your fault that your best friend is suffering from depression because you haven't spent enough time with her, or that it's your fault your son has been falling behind in school because you've been a bad mother is your way of trying to deal with a sad situation.

WikiHow

Regulation has been falling behind practice in some areas.

Independent

Iran, with three appearances on the global stage, has been falling behind.

The New York Times

The United States has been falling behind the rest of the world in pursuing trade agreements.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

We've been falling behind for so many years; we want to catch up.

The New York Times - Arts

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson, right, is having a terrific season, but the Razorbacks have been falling behind early.

The New York Times

"As women have climbed ever higher, men have been falling behind," she said in an article, "What, Me Marry?," in the November issue of The Atlantic.

The New York Times

Cone, who had had trouble throwing strikes and had been falling behind in the count in his first four starts, kept throwing strikes.

The New York Times - Sports

"All season long we had been falling behind, and sooner or later we wouldn't be able to catch up," Huskies Coach Joe Novak said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been falling behind" when you want to emphasize a consistent failure to keep pace over a period of time. For instance, "The country has been falling behind in technological innovation for the last decade."

Common error

Avoid using "has been falling behind" when you mean something that happened in the past only. It's better to say "fell behind" in those cases, as the original phrase emphasizes a prolonged duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been falling behind" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an ongoing action or process that started in the past and continues into the present, indicating a state of lagging or failing to keep pace. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable English form.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been falling behind" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase indicating a continuous process of lagging or failing to keep pace. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and general articles. While alternatives like "has been lagging" or "has been trailing" exist, the original phrase effectively conveys the sense of a persistent decline. Remember to reserve it for situations that truly reflect ongoing or repeated actions to maintain accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been lagging

Focuses on slower progress or development relative to others. This alternative emphasizes the slowness of progress.

has been trailing

Implies being at the rear or following behind in a race or competition. This alternative suggests a competitive context.

has been losing ground

Suggests a loss of advantage or position. This alternative highlights the aspect of losing a previously held position.

has been slipping

Indicates a gradual decline in performance or status. This alternative underscores the subtle and gradual nature of the decline.

has been declining

Refers to a decrease in quality, quantity, or importance. This alternative is more general and can apply to various contexts.

has been deteriorating

Implies a worsening condition or state. This alternative suggests a more severe decline than the original phrase.

has been receding

Suggests moving back or away, indicating a loss of prominence or influence. This alternative conveys a sense of withdrawal or retreat.

has been on the wane

Indicates a gradual decrease in power, prosperity, or influence. This alternative is more figurative and implies a natural decline.

has been outpaced

Highlights the fact that others are moving faster. This alternative focuses on the faster progress of others as the reason of being behind.

has been surpassed

Means that others have gone beyond in achievement or quality. It indicates that competitors have exceeded initial accomplishments or standards.

FAQs

How can I use "has been falling behind" in a sentence?

You can use "has been falling behind" to indicate a continuous failure to keep pace with a certain standard or with competitors. For example, "Our team "has been falling behind" in sales this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "has been falling behind"?

Alternatives include "has been lagging", "has been trailing", or "has been losing ground". Choose the one that best fits the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has fallen behind" instead of "has been falling behind"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Has fallen behind" suggests a completed action, while ""has been falling behind"" implies a continuous process of lagging.

What's the difference between "falling behind" and "has been falling behind"?

"Falling behind" describes an action happening right now, while ""has been falling behind"" describes a process that started in the past and continues to the present.