has been holding

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been holding" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is in the Present Perfect Continuous tense and is usually used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing. Example: She has been holding the job for five years.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What has been holding us back?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In the Bethlehem area, the quiet has been holding.

The Economist

In fact it has been holding our country back.

The Guardian

Pharaoh has been holding Moses and the Israelites captive.

The New York Times - Arts

Ben, it seems, has been holding out on Kelly.

The New York Times

The United Nations has been holding environmental conferences since 1972.

The Washington Post

It has been holding regular conference calls with entertainment executives.

The New York Times

Fantastic Fest has been holding successful secret screenings for years.

The Guardian - Film

The N.F.L. has been holding this symposium for six years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. DiGennaro has been holding home concerts for two years.

The New York Times

Recently, Esri has been holding an Imagery and Mapping Forum prior to the main User Conference.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been holding" to describe an action that started in the past and is still in progress, or to describe a habitual or repeated action over a period of time.

Common error

Avoid replacing "has been holding" with the simple past tense (e.g., "held") when you want to emphasize the continuous nature of the action from the past to the present. The simple past does not convey the ongoing duration implied by the present perfect continuous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been holding" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that began in the past and is still ongoing or has recently ceased. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been holding" is a versatile present perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present, or are repeated over a period. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, academic, and business contexts. When writing, be mindful of using the simple past tense instead of emphasizing the continuous nature of the action, and consider alternatives like "has maintained" or "has been conducting" to add nuance. Its frequent use across various authoritative sources validates its reliability and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has maintained

Focuses on the act of keeping something in a certain state or condition, similar to "holding".

has retained

Emphasizes keeping possession of something, akin to "holding" onto it.

has been conducting

Highlights the action of carrying out or organizing something regularly, similar to "holding" an event.

has been restraining

Focuses on the act of keeping something under control, similar to "holding" something back.

has been keeping

Highlights the continuous act of maintaining or possessing something.

has been managing

Emphasizes the act of controlling or directing something, similar to "holding" a position.

has been staging

Highlights the organization and presentation of events, comparable to "holding" performances.

has been preserving

Focuses on maintaining something in its original state, akin to "holding" onto tradition.

has been inhibiting

Emphasizes the act of restricting or preventing something from progressing, comparable to "holding" back progress.

has been stifling

Highlights the act of suppressing or restraining, similar to "holding" down creativity.

FAQs

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

The phrase "has been holding" is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For instance, "The United Nations "has been holding" environmental conferences since 1972."

What's the difference between "has been holding" and "held"?

"Has been holding" indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or recently completed, whereas "held" ("held") refers to a completed action in the past. Example: "The company "has been holding" talks" (talks are likely still ongoing), versus "The company "held" a meeting last week" (the meeting is finished).

What are some alternatives to "has been holding"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "has maintained", "has retained", or "has been conducting". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

While "is holding" is grammatically correct, it refers to an action happening right now. "Has been holding" emphasizes the duration of the action from the past to the present. For example, "The event "is holding" a conference now" versus "The event "has been holding" conferences annually for ten years."