has been messing

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been messing" is a valid and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is an auxiliary verb phrase that indicates an ongoing action in the past. For example, "John has been messing up his classes all semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Qatar has been messing with Saudi Arabia, and vice versa, for a long time.

The New Yorker

Because maybe it isn't this Banksy guy that has been messing up my life lately.

The New Yorker

"I think the pressure has been messing people up," Camann says later.

The New York Times - Magazine

"She's added a sculptural element to the body outline that Merce has been messing with for fifty years".

The New Yorker

Harkaway has been messing with readers' heads ever since publishing his debut, The Gone-Away World, in 2008.

The Guardian - Books

Rather than saying "Well, it's not my drone that's causing the problem – oh, unless my son has been messing about with it... Hang on".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"My holiday weekend has been messed up by a lot worse," she said.

The New York Times

When a country has been messed up long enough, reform becomes "much needed".

The Economist

Messi has been messed around by the Diego Maradona soap opera in Argentina.

The New York Times - Sports

After spending time in the US, and then coming to Brazil, my whole biological body clock has been messed up.

The Guardian - Sport

The Sunday market has been messed up by the sudden departure of its dominant force, the News of the World, but in total, it's down 44%.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been messing" to describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past that involves interference or unwanted alteration. It's suitable for situations where the focus is on the process rather than a completed result.

Common error

While "has been messing" is acceptable in many contexts, it can sound too informal in formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "has been interfering" or "has been disrupting" in academic papers or business reports.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been messing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing up to the present. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing ongoing interference or unwanted alterations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been messing" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe ongoing interference or unwanted alteration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral to informal register, making it suitable for news and general conversation but less ideal for formal academic or business settings. Alternatives like "has been interfering" or "has been disrupting" offer more formal options. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and context-appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been interfering

Replaces "messing" with "interfering", suggesting a more deliberate or disruptive action.

has been meddling

Similar to "interfering", but implies a more petty or annoying form of intervention.

has been tampering

Suggests unauthorized or improper alteration of something.

has been disrupting

Focuses on the aspect of causing disorder or interruption.

has been manipulating

Emphasizes the act of controlling or influencing something, often in a negative way.

has been toying

Implies treating something without serious intent, often causing harm or annoyance.

has been monkeying around

A more informal way of saying "messing around", suggesting playful but potentially disruptive behavior.

has been fiddling

Similar to "monkeying around", but often implies a lack of skill or understanding.

has been tinkering

Suggests making small changes or adjustments, often in an experimental way.

has been altering

Focuses on the act of changing or modifying something.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been messing" to indicate someone or something has been interfering or causing problems over a period of time. For example, "Qatar "has been messing" with Saudi Arabia, and vice versa, for a long time".

What are some alternatives to "has been messing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has been interfering", "has been meddling", or "has been tampering". These options provide varying degrees of formality and specificity.

Is "has been messing" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "has been messing" is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, it's better to use more precise and professional alternatives like "has been disrupting" or "has been altering".

What's the difference between "has been messing" and "has messed"?

"Has been messing" indicates an ongoing or repeated action, while "has messed" implies a completed action. For instance, "He "has been messing" with the settings all day" suggests continuous interference, whereas "He has messed with the settings" indicates a single, completed instance of interference.