has been lagging

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been lagging" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that progress or success has been slower or less than expected. For example: "John's study progress has been lagging lately, so his parents have been trying to find ways to motivate him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Nokia has been lagging behind there".

The New York Times - Tech

And public investment really, really has been lagging.

The New York Times

It's a confidence thing and mine has been lagging lately".

The New York Times - Sports

"Westchester has been lagging behind Fairfield and Manhattan.

The New York Times

While job recovery nationally has been lagging, the travel industry has been faring much better.

The New York Times

That would be remarkable, seeing that it has been lagging behind the continental average of 5%.

The Economist

So far, the rise in consumer spending has been lagging behind GDP growth.

The Economist

And Mr. King chose to run with Mr. Cuomo, who has been lagging in the polls.

The New York Times

Its revenues and profits are growing less than half as quickly as Oracle's, and its share price has been lagging.

The Economist

Job growth has been lagging in recent quarters, and offices are renting less space than they used to.

The New York Times - Magazine

Netanyahu's Likud party has been lagging in opinion polls, and he has stepped up his nationalist rhetoric in the final days of the campaign.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been lagging" to clearly indicate a comparison against a benchmark or competitor. Ensure the subject and the point of comparison are explicitly stated for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been lagging" when referring to a future event or a completed action. This phrase implies a continuing state of being behind.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been lagging" functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action or process that started in the past and continues to the present, implying that something is currently behind or not progressing as expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been lagging" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that something is underperforming or not progressing as quickly as expected. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and examples from diverse sources like The New York Times, The Economist, and Forbes show its widespread application across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. Alternatives such as ""has been falling behind"" and "has been underperforming" can be used to add nuance, but it is important to maintain clarity by specifying what the subject is lagging behind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been falling behind

Emphasizes the act of losing ground in a competitive context.

has been trailing

Suggests a position behind others in a race or competition.

has been underperforming

Focuses on the failure to meet expected performance levels.

has been losing momentum

Highlights the decrease in forward progress or pace.

has been stagnating

Indicates a lack of growth or development.

has been declining

Focuses on a downward trend or decrease in quality or quantity.

has been deteriorating

Implies a worsening condition or state.

has been slipping

Suggests a gradual decline in position or status.

has been deficient

Highlights a lack or shortage in required qualities or quantities.

has been deficient

Suggests failing to meet a required standard or expectation.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been lagging" to indicate that something is not progressing as quickly as expected or is performing worse than its competitors. For example: "The company's sales growth "has been falling behind" the industry average."

What's the difference between "has been lagging" and "is lagging"?

"Has been lagging" indicates a trend or a situation that has persisted over time, whereas "is lagging" describes a current state. Use "has been lagging" to show duration and history.

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

You can use alternatives like ""has been falling behind"", "has been underperforming", or "has been losing momentum" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it formal to use "has been lagging"?

The phrase "has been lagging" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise language to describe the specific nature of the underperformance.