has been illegal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been illegal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that has been against the law for a certain period of time up to the present. Example: "Since the new law was enacted, the sale of certain substances has been illegal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A growing problem has been illegal logging.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Batasuna has been illegal since 2003.

The Guardian

Under federal law, doing such things has been illegal.

The Economist

FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985.

Independent

Since 1984, capital punishment has been illegal in Massachusetts.

The New Yorker

The practice has been illegal in the UK since 1985.

The Guardian

Dog fighting, however, has been illegal nationwide since 1976.

The New York Times

It is, and has been, illegal to accept foreign money.

The New York Times

It has been illegal in Britain since 1985, but its prevalence has grown with immigration.

The Economist

Discrimination based on caste has been illegal in India for more than six decades.

The New York Times

(It has been illegal to remove fossils from Mongolia since the 1920s).

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been illegal", clearly specify the duration or point in time from which the activity has been against the law. This provides context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid assuming universal illegality. Specify the jurisdiction or context where the action "has been illegal", as laws vary by region and may change over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been illegal" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of something being prohibited by law. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to specify the illegality of actions or practices.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been illegal" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that an action or practice has been prohibited by law since a certain point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, noting its prevalence across various sources, especially News & Media. While primarily used to inform or clarify legal statuses, specifying the context and jurisdiction where the illegality applies is crucial. Alternatives like "is prohibited" or "is against the law" can be used depending on the level of formality desired. In summary, "has been illegal" is a reliable and versatile phrase when used with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is against the law

Replaces "has been illegal" with a more direct and common expression.

is prohibited

Uses a more formal term to convey the same meaning of being forbidden by law.

is unlawful

Employs a single adjective to indicate the illegal nature of something.

is banned

A simpler, more concise way to express that something is not allowed.

is outlawed

Similar to 'banned', but with a stronger connotation of being officially prohibited.

is illicit

Replaces 'illegal' with a synonym that suggests secrecy or disapproval.

is illegitimate

Indicates that something is not in accordance with the law or rules.

is criminalized

Specifies that an action has been made a crime by law.

is a violation of the law

Expands the phrase to explicitly state that something breaks the law.

is not permitted by law

A longer, more descriptive way of saying something is illegal.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been illegal" to describe something that was legal in the past but is now against the law. For example, "The sale of asbestos "has been illegal" in many countries since the 1990s".

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

Alternatives include "is prohibited", "is against the law", or "is unlawful", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "has been illegal"?

Yes, "has been illegal" is grammatically correct. It indicates that something was legal before but is no longer so. It's a common construction in legal and news contexts.

What's the difference between "was illegal" and "has been illegal"?

"Was illegal" refers to a specific time in the past when something was against the law. "Has been illegal" implies that the illegality started in the past and continues to the present. The latter indicates an ongoing state.