has been firing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been firing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or situation that started in the past and continues into the present, often in contexts related to employment or performance. Example: "The company has been firing employees due to budget cuts and restructuring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Hamas denies that it has been firing the rockets.

The New York Times

Gary Hooper has been firing blanks since Boxing Day and began on the bench against Stoke.

The Guardian - Sport

With all the attention on Jamie Vardy's exploits, Ighalo has been firing away under the radar.

The Guardian - Sport

Iraq has been firing missiles and antiaircraft artillery at the American and British warplanes.

The New York Times

The president has been firing up his base by branding the caravan an "invasion".

The Guardian

Argentina, a two-time champion, has been firing on all cylinders.

The New York Times - Sports

Hamas has been firing rockets into Israel, too, causing fear and trauma.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Nobody has been fired.

The Economist

Prosecutor has been fired; the Justice Dept.

The New Yorker

I assume that person has been fired.

Independent

The starting gun has been fired.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a team or organization performing well, consider using the idiom "firing on all cylinders" to convey peak performance.

Common error

Avoid using "has been firing" when describing a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past perfect tense (had fired) or simple past (fired) to accurately reflect the action's completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been firing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. Ludwig confirms that it describes an action that started in the past and is ongoing. It signifies a continuous or repeated action over a period of time leading up to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been firing" is a versatile verb phrase used in the present perfect continuous tense to describe ongoing actions that began in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its register ranges from neutral to formal depending on the context, appearing most frequently in news and media sources. Be mindful of using it to indicate continuous actions rather than completed ones, and consider idiomatic uses like "firing on all cylinders" to describe peak performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been launching

Replaces "firing" with a synonym suggesting initiation or commencement of something.

has been initiating

Emphasizes the start of an action or process, similar to beginning a series of events.

has been unleashing

Implies a release of energy or force, often used in contexts where something powerful is being deployed.

has been directing

Focuses on the act of guiding or aiming something, suitable for scenarios involving targeting.

has been sending

A more general term for dispatching something, which can include messages, signals, or projectiles.

has been projecting

Suggests an outward display or emission, applicable to scenarios involving influence or force.

has been broadcasting

Implies a widespread dissemination of information or signals.

has been transmitting

Focuses on the transfer of data or energy from one point to another.

has been emitting

Describes the act of releasing something, such as light, heat, or particles.

has been radiating

Implies a spread of influence or energy from a central point, often in a figurative sense.

FAQs

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

The phrase "has been firing" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, "The artillery "has been firing" into the city for hours."

What does it mean when someone says a team is "firing on all cylinders"?

This idiom means the team is performing at its best, with all members working effectively together. It's like saying everything is functioning perfectly and powerfully.

What's the difference between "has fired" and "has been firing"?

"Has fired" indicates a completed action, while "has been firing" indicates an action that started in the past and is ongoing. For example, "The sniper "has fired" one shot" (action completed), versus "The sniper "has been firing" continuously for an hour" (ongoing action).

What are some alternatives to saying someone "has been firing off attacks"?

Depending on the context, you could say they "have been launching attacks", "have been issuing criticisms", or "have been directing accusations".