has been governing

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been governing' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that someone has been in charge or has held political office for a certain period of time. For example: "The prime minister has been governing the country for five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

In other words, get the government back to a right of center government, rather than the far left that has been governing this country".

Huffington Post

Since April, Préval has been governing under emergency law.

The New Yorker

The PRI has been governing Mexico for 71 years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Since May, Northern Ireland has been governing itself rather than being controlled directly by London.

The New York Times

For more than a year, he has been governing not as a physical presence but as a shadow.

The New Yorker

26 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has been governing India under emergency provisions set out in Article 352 of its Constitution.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Since then, Italy has been governed by a technocratic government led by Mario Monti, whose own political future has increasingly become a matter of national interest.

The New York Times

"Promotion to management in government primarily has been governed by the 'Peter Principle' — promoted to your level of incompetence".

Vice

Thailand had such things too, but has been governed by a military junta since a May coup dismissed the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Huffington Post

For many years, Britain has been governed by damaged people.

The Guardian - Opinion

The state has been governed by the opposition National Action Party since 1997.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been governing" to describe a continuous action over a period, emphasizing the duration and ongoing nature of the governance. For example, "The party has been governing the region for the past decade."

Common error

Avoid using "has been governing" to describe a period of governance that has definitively ended without ongoing consequences. Instead, opt for "governed" or "was governing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been governing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, describing an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been governing" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an ongoing period of leadership or rule, according to Ludwig AI. It's primarily used in neutral contexts, especially in news and media, to highlight the continuous nature of governance. While "has been in power" and "has been ruling" offer similar meanings, they subtly shift the emphasis. Remember to use "has been governing" when the act of governing is still in progress and relevant to the present. Also, be aware of the difference in meaning between this term and the word "governed", which describes something in the past, and not something still happening.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been in power

Focuses on the state of holding power rather than the act of governing.

has been ruling

Implies a more authoritative or absolute form of control.

has been leading

Suggests guidance and direction, not necessarily absolute control.

has been in charge

Highlights responsibility and oversight more than governance.

has been administering

Emphasizes the management and execution of policies.

has been managing

Implies a more hands-on, operational role.

has been controlling

Suggests a more forceful or restrictive approach to power.

has been at the helm

Uses a nautical metaphor to describe being in a leadership position.

has been superintending

Emphasizes oversight and direction of operations.

has been presiding over

Implies a formal or ceremonial role in leading.

FAQs

How do I use "has been governing" in a sentence?

Use "has been governing" to describe a situation where someone or a group has been in power for a period of time and is still currently governing. For example, "The president "has been governing" the country effectively since his election."

What can I say instead of "has been governing"?

You can use alternatives like "has been in power", "has been ruling", or "has been leading" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "has been governing" and "governed"?

"Has been governing" implies a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing, while "governed" refers to a completed period of governance. For example, "The coalition "has been governing" since 2010" versus "The previous administration "governed" from 2005 to 2010".

Is it correct to use "has been governing" to describe a past leader?

It is generally correct if you are emphasizing the impact or consequences of their ongoing governance. However, "governed" is more suitable if the period of governance is completely finished with no current impact.