has been ill

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been ill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has been sick for an extended period of time. For example: "My uncle has been ill for the past few weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

"The baby has been ill.

The Guardian

Also, Sabathia's father has been ill.

The New York Times - Sports

She has been ill for 10 years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lately, that woman has been ill.

The New York Times

An American writer has been ill served and underestimated.

The New Yorker

But Israel has been ill served by America's endless indulgence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

While in prison, family members say, he has been ill-fed and subjected to frequent abuse.

The New York Times

Haiti has been ill-served by becoming the plaything of partisan politics in Washington.

The Economist

But although Mrs Blair's behaviour has been ill-judged, there is no evidence that she has done anything really dreadful.

The Economist

Yet throughout history, and especially over the past century, it has been ill-governed and, above all, colossally underpriced.

The Economist

He has been ill-served by apologists, all too ready to insinuate unease and provide florid character references.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been ill", ensure the context clearly indicates the duration or impact of the illness. For example, specify "has been ill for several weeks" or "has been ill and unable to work".

Common error

Avoid using "has been ill" when you mean a past, completed illness. "Was ill" is appropriate for a single, finished episode of sickness, while "has been ill" implies a continuing or recently concluded period of illness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been ill" functions as a present perfect continuous construction. Ludwig confirms this phrase is correct in English. This construction indicates a state of being unwell that started in the past and continues to the present or has recently ceased.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been ill" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe an ongoing or recently concluded period of sickness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct in English and serves to inform about a person's health status over time. While versatile, it's important to distinguish its use from "was ill", which refers to a completed past event. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, science, and formal business contexts, demonstrating its broad applicability. When using the phrase, consider the duration and impact of the illness for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been unwell

This alternative uses a synonym for "ill", maintaining the original meaning with a slight variation in word choice.

has been sick

This alternative uses a more common and straightforward synonym for "ill", making it suitable for informal contexts.

has been ailing

This alternative suggests a prolonged period of illness, implying a more serious or chronic condition.

has suffered from an illness

This alternative emphasizes the experience of enduring an illness, highlighting the suffering aspect.

has experienced health issues

This alternative is a more general way of describing health problems, suitable for sensitive or formal contexts.

has had a health problem

This alternative is more direct, suggesting a specific health issue rather than a general state of illness.

has been under the weather

This alternative is an idiom suggesting a mild and temporary illness.

has not been feeling well

This alternative focuses on the subjective experience of not being in good health.

has been indisposed

This is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone is unwell.

has been diagnosed with

This alternative specifies that the person has received a medical diagnosis, indicating a more formal and confirmed health issue.

FAQs

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

Use "has been ill" to describe a state of sickness that has occurred over a period of time and may still be ongoing or has recently ended. For example, "She "has been ill" for the past week and is still recovering".

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

You can use alternatives like "has been unwell", "has been sick", or "has been ailing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been ill" or "was ill"?

"Has been ill" indicates a continuing or recently concluded period of illness, while "was ill" refers to a past, completed episode. Choose based on whether the illness is ongoing or finished.

What's the difference between "has been ill" and "became ill"?

"Has been ill" describes a state over time, while "became ill" describes the point at which someone transitioned into a state of sickness. "He "became ill" yesterday" versus "He "has been ill" since yesterday".