has been married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been married' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is presently in a marriage, or who has been in a marriage in the past. For example, "My father has been married for over 30 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Alley has been married twice.

Independent

He has been married twice.

Independent

Mr. Gingrich has been married three times.

The New York Times

Mr. Zuma has been married five times.

The New York Times

(Hastert has been married since 1973).

The New Yorker

He has been married for 38 years.

The New York Times

(He has been married five times).

The New York Times

He himself has been married five times.

The New Yorker

Ball has been married for 76 years.

The New York Times - Sports

(Trump has been married three* times).

The New Yorker

Liz Taylor has been married three times.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been married" when you want to indicate someone's marital history, regardless of their current status. It is appropriate to use when detailing a person's background or relationship timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "has been marrying" when you mean "has been married". "Has been marrying" implies an ongoing series of wedding ceremonies, which is usually not the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been married" functions as a present perfect verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage. It indicates a state of being married that started in the past and may or may not continue into the present. It typically requires a preposition ('to') to specify the spouse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been married" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone's marital history. Ludwig AI confirms this. It's versatile, applicable in various contexts from news reports to personal biographies, and across different registers. It's crucial to distinguish its meaning from similar-sounding phrases like "has been marrying". While the phrase is straightforward, understanding its implications regarding marital history makes for clear communication. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is currently married

Focuses on the present marital status rather than a past history.

was previously married

Highlights a past marriage that has ended.

is wedded

A more formal and less common way to say someone is married.

is in a marital union

Emphasizes the state of being in a legally recognized relationship.

entered into matrimony

A formal phrase referring to the act of getting married.

has a spouse

Highlights the existence of a marital partner.

tied the knot

An idiomatic and informal way to say someone got married.

exchanged vows

Focuses on the wedding ceremony and commitment made.

took a wife/husband

An older-fashioned way to say someone got married.

is hitched

An informal and slightly dated term for being married.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been married" to describe someone's marital history, such as, "She "has been married" twice before finding lasting love."

What's a more formal alternative to "has been married"?

A more formal alternative could be "entered into matrimony", although it refers to the act of getting married more so than the state of being married. Using "is wedded" can also convey a formal tone.

Is it correct to say "has been married with"?

No, the correct phrasing is "has been married to". For example, "He "has been married" to his current wife for 20 years."

What is the difference between "has been married" and "is married"?

"Has been married" indicates that someone was married at some point in the past, while "is married" means they are currently in a marital relationship. For instance, "He "has been married" but is now divorced," versus "He "is married" and very happy."