has been improving

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been improving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something (usually a situation or process) that has been getting better or improving over time. For example, "The quality of healthcare in the country has been improving over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nationally, health in Rwanda has been improving since 2000, with considerable improvement since 2005.

BMC Health Services Research

That relationship has been improving.

The New York Times - Arts

The situation has been improving.

The New York Times

Tibet's infrastructure has been improving fast.

The Economist

The job market has been improving, sluggishly but steadily.

The Guardian - Business

But opera, in particular, has been improving in recent years.

The New York Times - Travel

And here's the thing – his rugby has been improving steadily.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a smart and sleek attraction; business has been improving.

The New York Times - Arts

But the pace of recovery has been improving.

The Economist

ON THE whole, life in Uganda has been improving.

The Economist

He is a talented climber who has been improving steadily.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been improving", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific aspect or situation is getting better and over what period. Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been improving" without providing concrete evidence or examples. Vague statements can weaken your argument. Instead, quantify the improvement or give specific instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been improving" functions as a present perfect progressive verb phrase, indicating an ongoing action or state that started in the past and continues to the present. It describes a process of betterment over time, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been improving" is a versatile and widely used way to describe positive change over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, be specific about what is improving and provide evidence to support your claim. Alternatives like "is showing improvement" or "is getting better" can be used to vary your language, but ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is showing improvement

Focuses on the current state of showing positive change rather than a continuous process.

is getting better

A more informal way to express the same idea, suggesting a gradual positive change.

has progressed

Emphasizes the achievement of a certain level of advancement.

has advanced

Similar to 'has progressed' but suggests a more significant leap forward.

is on the upswing

Implies a turn from negative to positive, often used for trends or conditions.

is on an upward trend

More specific to measurable data or statistics that are increasing positively.

has seen gains

Suggests that something specific has been gained or achieved as improvement.

is developing positively

Highlights the positive direction of ongoing development.

is evolving favorably

Implies a more complex or natural process of improvement.

has ameliorated

More formal and suggests a reduction in negative conditions.

FAQs

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

Use "has been improving" to describe a process or situation that is showing positive change over time. For example, "The company's customer service "has been improving" since implementing the new training program".

What are some alternatives to "has been improving"?

You can use alternatives like "is showing improvement", "is getting better", or "has progressed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been improving" or "is improving"?

"Has been improving" indicates a continuous process of improvement over time, while "is improving" suggests that the improvement is currently happening. The correct choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

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

"Has been improving" describes a continuous process of getting better, whereas "has improved" indicates that a change has been completed and a better state has been reached. Consider the timeline and state of the improvement when choosing between these phrases.