has been gathering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been gathering' is correct and can be used in written English.
Example sentence: Over the past few weeks, momentum for the cause has been gathering.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The storm has been gathering for years.

The Guardian - Business

But it has been gathering pace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Demand, though, has been gathering pace.

The Guardian - Travel

Labour's housing policy has been gathering momentum.

The Guardian

The N.S.A. has been gathering data online for years.

The New Yorker

The application has been gathering dust in Brussels ever since.

The Economist

The grand jury has been gathering evidence since February.

The New York Times

But since then Swift has been gathering strength.

The Guardian - Opinion

Consequently, the recovery of light hydrocarbons from refinery gas has been gathering more and more significance.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

But opposition has been gathering since Mr. Cameron gave notice of his intentions last summer.

The New York Times

The group Save the Colorado has been gathering signatures for thank-you petitions ever since.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been gathering" to describe a process that has been ongoing for some time and is still in progress. This emphasizes the continuous nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "has been gathering" when describing a completed action. Instead, use the past perfect tense (e.g., "had gathered") to indicate that the action is finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been gathering" functions as the main verb in a present perfect continuous construction, indicating an action that started in the past, continues into the present, and may continue into the future. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been gathering" is a versatile phrase widely used to describe the ongoing process of accumulation or intensification. Grammatically correct and frequently used, as confirmed by Ludwig, it’s suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and business. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the continuous nature of an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. When in doubt, alternatives like "has been accumulating" or "has been building up" can be used to fine-tune the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been accumulating

Focuses on the gradual increase in quantity or amount.

has been amassing

Emphasizes the collection of something, often in large quantities.

has been building up

Suggests a gradual increase in intensity or volume.

has been developing

Highlights the process of growth and maturation over time.

has been intensifying

Focuses on the increase in strength or severity.

has been consolidating

Implies the strengthening and stabilization of something.

has been growing

A general term for increasing in size, amount, or degree.

has been aggregating

Highlights the collection of items or data into a cluster.

has been compiling

Emphasizes the organized collection of information or data.

has been attracting

Focuses on the process of drawing in or gaining something.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been gathering" to describe something that is gradually increasing or accumulating over time. For example, "Support for the proposal "has been gathering" momentum recently."

What are some alternatives to "has been gathering"?

Some alternatives include "has been accumulating", "has been building up", or "has been developing", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is gathering" instead of "has been gathering"?

While "is gathering" can also be correct, it implies that the action is happening right now, whereas ""has been gathering"" emphasizes a process that has been ongoing for some time.

What is the difference between "has gathered" and "has been gathering"?

"Has gathered" suggests a completed action, while ""has been gathering"" indicates an ongoing process that is still in progress. For example, "The team has gathered all the necessary data" versus "The team "has been gathering" data for the past month."