has been gradually improving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been gradually improving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or condition that has shown consistent progress over time. Example: "The company's sales figures have been gradually improving over the last quarter, indicating a positive trend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Twitter has been gradually improving its direct messaging feature.

Independent

It was viewed as an encouraging sign that the labor market has been gradually improving.

The New York Times

Fame Academy, which has been gradually improving on Friday nights, continues to flounder in its midweek slot against Emmerdale.

The Guardian

He said that Amazon has been especially popular among businesses because it has been gradually improving its services and lowering its costs.

The New York Times - Tech

In fact, the prospect for wild salmon in Scotland has been gradually improving, with numbers steadily climbing from the low stocks recorded in the early 2000s.

The New York Times

The survival of patients on ventricular assist devices has been gradually improving since their inception more than 50 years ago.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Conveyance infrastructure and irrigation technology has been gradually improved to ensure efficient distribution and utilization of scarce water resources.

Applied Water Science

Among them, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, which is strongly systematic and provides definite results, is accepted by many scholars and has been gradually improved over the years.

Petroleum Science

Ever since the first paper describing a docking-based IVS program was published about a decade ago, the approach has been gradually improved and utilized for a variety of purposes in the field of drug discovery.

Biophysics Reports

The procedure has been gradually improved to achieve more effective anchoring of a majority of contigs.

BMC Plant Biology

Relations have been gradually improving since then.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been gradually improving", ensure that the context provides evidence of consistent, albeit slow, progress over a defined period. For example, "The patient's condition has been gradually improving since starting the new medication last month."

Common error

Avoid using "has been gradually improving" when describing situations with sudden or drastic improvements. This phrase implies a slow, consistent change, not a rapid transformation. For example, instead of "The company's profits have been gradually improving since the new CEO took over last week", consider a phrase like "The company's profits have shown a significant increase since the new CEO took over last week".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been gradually improving" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the present perfect progressive tense. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to express that something has been consistently getting better over time. This phrase is commonly found describing trends and developments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been gradually improving" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a situation or condition showing consistent, slow progress. Ludwig AI indicates its suitability across various contexts, including News & Media and Science. While it's essential to ensure the context aligns with a gradual change, the phrase effectively conveys a positive trend. Alternatives like "has been steadily getting better" can be used for similar effect. The examples found by Ludwig highlight the common usage and acceptability of this phrase in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been steadily getting better

Replaces "gradually improving" with "steadily getting better", emphasizing a consistent and reliable rate of progress.

has been progressively enhancing

Replaces "gradually improving" with "progressively enhancing", focusing on the continuous improvement and refinement.

has shown a gradual increase in quality

Specifies that it is the quality that is improving and replaces "has been" with "has shown".

is slowly but surely advancing

Uses a more figurative expression with "slowly but surely advancing", indicating a steady pace forward.

has seen consistent positive development

Changes the verb to "has seen" and describes the improvement as "consistent positive development", focusing on the positive aspect of the progress.

has evolved positively over time

Focuses on the evolution aspect of improving. "Gradual" becomes "over time".

has been on a positive trajectory

This alternative is more figurative and describes the improvement as a positive trend.

is on the upswing

This alternative is an idiom that means something is increasing or improving.

has been undergoing continuous refinement

This alternative is more focused on refinement. "Gradual" becomes "continuous".

is experiencing ongoing betterment

Replaces improving with a noun form: "betterment".

FAQs

How can I use "has been gradually improving" in a sentence?

Use "has been gradually improving" to describe a situation or condition that is showing consistent, slow progress over time. For example: "The economy "has been gradually improving" since the recession".

What can I say instead of "has been gradually improving"?

You can use alternatives like "has been steadily getting better", "has been progressively enhancing", or "has shown a gradual increase in quality" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "has been gradually improving" in formal writing?

Yes, "has been gradually improving" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe a process of improvement, as demonstrated by its presence in news sources like The New York Times.

What's the difference between "has been gradually improving" and "has been improving rapidly"?

"Has been gradually improving" indicates a slow, consistent rate of progress, while "has been improving rapidly" suggests a fast or quick rate of progress. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual pace of change.