has been leading

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been leading" is a valid and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is generally used to describe something or someone that has been in progress or in the same state/position for a period of time. For example: "John has been leading the project for two years now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mazzanti has been leading the charge.

The Guardian - Arts

Everything has been leading up to this.

The Guardian

He has been leading in the polls.

The New York Times

My colleague Walter Piper, has been leading the project.

Cornell University

Dominic Rossi has been leading a lonely crusade.

Independent

Stephen Corn, who has been leading many of the raids.

The New York Times

Mr. Bush, by contrast, "has been leading," Mr. Evans said.

The New York Times

Poching has been leading efforts to raise funds from Britain.

The Guardian - Sport

The UK has been leading resistance to such reforms.

The Guardian

"Reince has been leading this evaluation," the senior official said.

The New Yorker

Prof. Graham has been leading efforts to harness protein structure manipulation software for teaching in biology.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been leading" to emphasize the duration and continuity of someone's leadership or influence, particularly when highlighting ongoing projects or initiatives. For example, "She has been leading the team through a period of significant growth."

Common error

Avoid using "has been leading" when referring to a completed action; instead, use "led" or "has led". For example, instead of "He has been leading the project last year", use "He led the project last year."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been leading" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that began in the past, is ongoing, and is likely to continue into the future. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been leading" is a versatile verb phrase used in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action that started in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including news, academia, science, and business. The phrase is particularly effective for emphasizing the duration and continuity of someone's leadership or influence. While grammatically sound, users should be mindful of using the correct tense to avoid errors. Alternative phrases like "has spearheaded", "has been guiding", and "has been directing" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been directing

Replaces "leading" with a verb that focuses on control and management.

has been guiding

Substitutes "leading" with a softer verb that emphasizes direction and support.

has been in charge of

Emphasizes responsibility and authority instead of active guidance.

has been steering

Similar to "guiding" but implies a more deliberate course correction.

has spearheaded

Replaces "leading" with a more forceful verb emphasizing initiation and drive.

has been managing

Focuses on the operational aspects of leading a team or project.

has been pioneering

Highlights innovation and breaking new ground in leadership.

has been at the helm of

Uses a nautical metaphor to indicate leadership and control.

has been presiding over

Implies a more formal and authoritative role in leading.

has been superintending

Suggests oversight and control, particularly in an organizational context.

FAQs

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

Use "has been leading" to describe a continuous action of guiding or directing something over a period. For instance, "The CEO "has been leading" the company for a decade" indicates ongoing leadership.

What are some alternatives to "has been leading"?

You can use alternatives such as "has spearheaded", "has been guiding", or "has been directing" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

When should I use "has led" instead of "has been leading"?

"Has led" should be used when referring to a completed action, while ""has been leading"" is used for ongoing actions. For example, "She has led the project to success" versus "She "has been leading" the team through the current crisis".

What's the difference between "leading" and "has been leading"?

"Leading" describes a current action or quality, while ""has been leading"" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "He is leading the discussion" versus "He "has been leading" the discussion for the past hour".