has been preparing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been preparing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that has been taking place for a certain amount of time and is not yet complete. For example, "She has been preparing for her upcoming exam for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Sage has been preparing to forge ahead.

The New York Times

Zeller has been preparing for this pressure his entire life.

The New York Times

The group has been preparing its campaign for months.

The New York Times

The industry has been preparing for increased competition.

The New York Times

Wishart has been preparing for this endeavor for six years.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Maimone has been preparing for this moment since 2000.

The New York Times - Science

Weibrecht has been preparing for such moments for a while.

The New York Times - Sports

"She has been preparing with the others," the source said.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

From the very beginning, Hague has been preparing for this.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Our focus has been preparing for the conventions.

The New York Times

His force has been preparing for months, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been preparing" to emphasize the duration and ongoing nature of the preparation process, highlighting the continuous effort involved.

Common error

Avoid using "has been preparing" when the preparation is already completed; instead, use "had been preparing" or "prepared" to indicate a finished action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been preparing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that started in the past, continues into the present, and emphasizes the duration of the preparation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

9%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been preparing" is a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense used to describe an ongoing preparation process that started in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including news, academia, and business. To use "has been preparing" effectively, ensure the context clarifies the subject and the object of the preparation, and be mindful of the tense to avoid errors. Using synonyms such as "has been getting ready" or "has been training" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been getting ready

Replaces "preparing" with a more informal synonym, "getting ready".

has been training

Substitutes "preparing" with "training", implying a focus on skill development.

has been gearing up

Uses the phrasal verb "gearing up", suggesting an increase in effort and intensity.

has been laying the groundwork

Emphasizes the foundational aspect of preparation, focusing on initial steps.

has been paving the way

Similar to laying the groundwork but suggests clearing obstacles.

has been anticipating

Shifts the focus to mental preparation and expectation of an event.

has been making arrangements

Highlights the logistical and planning aspects of preparation.

has taken steps to prepare

More formal and emphasizes specific actions taken.

has readied

Uses the verb "readied", a more concise and slightly formal alternative.

has made preparations

Focuses on the act of making plans, emphasizing organizational efforts.

FAQs

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

Use "has been preparing" to describe an ongoing action of getting ready for something. For example, "The team "has been preparing" for the championship game for months."

What are some alternatives to "has been preparing"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been getting ready", "has been training", or "has been gearing up" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "had been preparing" instead of "has been preparing"?

Use "had been preparing" when describing an action that was in progress before another past action. For example, "She had been preparing for the presentation, but it was canceled last minute."

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

"Preparing" indicates a general action of getting ready, while "has been preparing" emphasizes the continuous and ongoing nature of the preparation over a period of time. It implies a sustained effort.