has been ongoing for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been ongoing for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or situation that has been continuing for a specific duration of time. Example: "The project has been ongoing for several months, and we are finally seeing progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Settler terrorism has been ongoing for decades with impunity.

The Guardian

It is intense, brutal and has been ongoing for six years.

The Guardian

The struggle to lessen the pay gap between men and women has been ongoing for decades.

The Guardian - Opinion

The work on the project, which has been ongoing for months, is far from done.

The New York Times - Sports

"The investigation and prosecution of [Skilling] has been ongoing for more than 10 years," the agreement stated.

The Guardian - Business

One such fact is the disaster of Fukushima which has been ongoing for more than five years.

The Guardian

We very much hope that this will be the final resolution of this legal battle that has been ongoing for so many years".

The Guardian

Their self-rule, which has been ongoing for more than a decade in northern Iraq, makes it more difficult to reintegrate the Kurds into the Iraqi body politic.

The New York Times

"The investigation has been ongoing for well over a year and may last another year or longer as there is no estimated date of resolution.

The Guardian

On the European level, the discussion about nanomaterials has been ongoing for several years.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The situation with Bilel has been ongoing for a long time now.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been ongoing for" to clearly indicate that an event, process, or situation has been in progress for a certain duration. This emphasizes continuity and can be useful when explaining the history or development of something.

Common error

Avoid using redundant time phrases with "has been ongoing for". For example, instead of saying "The project has been ongoing for the past several months", simply state "The project "has been ongoing for" several months".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been ongoing for" functions as a verbal phrase that establishes the duration of an action or state. As shown in Ludwig, the phrase often introduces a period of time, specifying how long something has persisted. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been ongoing for" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to specify the duration of an activity or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various writing contexts, from formal reports to casual discussions. Ludwig examples show that the phrase appears frequently in news, science and media publications, indicating its broad acceptance. When using the phrase, be mindful of redundancy, and choose it to signal the duration, in constrast with "is ongoing" which simply defines a current state. Semantically similar alternatives include "has continued for" or "has lasted for", but "has been ongoing for" provides a balance of formality and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has continued for

Replaces "ongoing" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the continuation of the action or state.

has been in progress for

Focuses on the process and development of something over a period of time.

has lasted for

Emphasizes the duration of the event or situation.

has persisted for

Highlights the tenacity or resistance to change of the event or situation.

has stretched for

Implies that something has taken longer than expected.

has extended for

Similar to "has lasted for", but can imply a deliberate lengthening.

has remained for

Highlights the constant state, or absence of change during the time.

has unfolded for

Suggests a gradual revelation or development over time.

has transpired for

Emphasizes the occurrence or happening of something over a period of time.

has rolled on for

Suggests a continuous and often unstoppable progression of time.

FAQs

How can I use "has been ongoing for" in a sentence?

The phrase "has been ongoing for" indicates that something has been happening or in progress for a specific period. For example, "The investigation "has been ongoing for" several months" or "Negotiations "has been ongoing for" years".

What are some alternatives to "has been ongoing for"?

Alternatives include "has continued for", "has lasted for", or "has been in progress for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "has been ongoing" or "is ongoing"?

"Has been ongoing" implies a duration from a past point to the present, while "is ongoing" simply states that something is currently happening. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration of the activity. For example, "The discussion is ongoing" suggests its current state, whereas, "The discussion "has been ongoing for" weeks" emphasizes its duration.

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

"Has been ongoing for" describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present, indicating a duration. "Is ongoing" simply describes an action currently in progress, without necessarily specifying when it started. Consider the sentence "The project "has been ongoing for" six months" versus "The project is ongoing".