has been growing

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been growing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is gradually increasing in size, difficulty, speed, etc. over a period of time. For example: "The demand for organic produce has been growing over the past few years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That un-do list has been growing.

The New York Times

The gap has been growing (see chart).

The Economist

Lately, though, its appeal has been growing.

The Economist

The backlash has been growing apace.

Independent

Tourism has been growing.

The Guardian - Opinion

It has been growing fast.

The New York Times

Bad press has been growing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But opposition has been growing.

The Guardian - Tech

Their success has been growing.

The Guardian - Sport

But business has been growing.

The New York Times - Food

The industry has been growing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been growing" to describe a process or trend that has been continuously increasing over a period of time. Be specific about what is growing and, if relevant, the rate or extent of growth.

Common error

Avoid using "has been growing" when referring to a single, completed instance of growth. This phrase implies an ongoing process, so ensure the context supports continuous development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been growing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing or has consequences that extend to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase adheres to standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

23%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been growing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. Ludwig AI confirms its adherence to standard English grammar. It describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present, often highlighting trends or developments. As the examples from Ludwig indicate, this phrase appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, making it versatile for both formal and informal communication. When using "has been growing", ensure the context aligns with an ongoing process rather than a single, completed instance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been increasing

Changes the verb from 'growing' to 'increasing', providing a slightly more formal tone.

has been rising

Replaces 'growing' with 'rising', suggesting an upward trend, often used for quantities or values.

has expanded

Uses 'expanded' to indicate an increase in size or scope, implying a more significant change.

has developed

Employs 'developed' to suggest a gradual improvement or evolution, rather than just a size increase.

has progressed

Substitutes 'growing' with 'progressed,' indicating forward movement and advancement.

has evolved

Replaces 'growing' with 'evolved', implying a more complex and transformative development.

has flourished

Uses 'flourished' to suggest a thriving and successful growth, often used in positive contexts.

has surged

Replaces 'growing' with 'surged', indicating a sudden and rapid increase.

is on the rise

Shifts the structure to a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the current upward trend.

is gaining traction

Uses a more idiomatic expression to indicate increasing popularity or acceptance.

FAQs

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

Use "has been growing" to describe something that is increasing gradually over time. For example, "The demand for electric cars "has been growing" rapidly in recent years".

What are some alternatives to "has been growing"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been increasing", "has expanded", or "is on the rise" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been grow" instead of "has been growing"?

No, "has been grow" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""has been growing"", which uses the present participle (growing) to indicate continuous action.

What is the difference between "has grown" and "has been growing"?

"Has grown" indicates that something has increased to a certain size or extent by now (completion of growth). "Has been growing" indicates that something has been continuously increasing over a period of time and may still be in the process of growing.