has been prosecuting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been prosecuting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or process of legal prosecution that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "The district attorney has been prosecuting the case for several months, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

For more than two years, the Bangladeshi government has been prosecuting defendants accused of atrocities during the country's 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

The New York Times

Bangladesh has been prosecuting defendants accused of committing atrocities during the war for more than two years, and each turn in the major cases has sparked protests.

The New York Times

Separate from the habeas corpus case before Judge Huvelle, the government has been prosecuting Mr. Jawad, an Afghan, in the military commission system at Guantánamo.

The New York Times

While Trump has confounded with his superficial and often contradictory statements, Clinton has been prosecuting the argument that testing times demand a leader with grip and knowledge.

The Guardian

KAMPALA, Uganda — Defense lawyers at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which has been prosecuting ringleaders of the 1994 genocide, are threatening to stop participating in cases after one of their colleagues was jailed by the Rwandan government last month.

The New York Times

The United States has been prosecuting a war on terror for more than sixteen years; Gabbard is one of vanishingly few Democratic politicians who are eager to talk about it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

One tax evader has been prosecuted, which has led Labour to question why the prosecution rate has been so low.

BBC

Only one has been prosecuted.

Independent

Nobody has been prosecuted.

The Guardian

Only one person has been prosecuted.

The Economist

But nobody has been prosecuted or compensated.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been prosecuting" to emphasize that a legal action began in the past and is still ongoing. For example, "The government has been prosecuting corruption cases for the past five years."

Common error

Avoid using "has been prosecuting" when the action is completed. Use "prosecuted" instead. For example, instead of "The lawyer has been prosecuting the case and won", say "The lawyer prosecuted the case and won".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been prosecuting" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. This indicates an action that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase describes ongoing legal proceedings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been prosecuting" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, used to describe an ongoing legal or argumentative action that began in the past. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, reflecting its use in reporting legal proceedings. It's important to use "has been prosecuting" only when the action is still in progress; otherwise, the past tense "prosecuted" is more appropriate. Although Ludwig's analysis shows that the phrase is correct and usable, it remains relatively uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is currently prosecuting

Focuses on the present, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the prosecution.

has been pursuing a case against

Emphasizes the active pursuit of a legal case.

has undertaken prosecution of

Highlights the commencement and carrying out of the prosecution.

is actively litigating against

Uses a more formal term, 'litigating', to describe the legal action.

has initiated legal proceedings against

Focuses on the start of the legal process.

is leading the prosecution of

Highlights the leadership role in the prosecution.

has been arguing the case against

Shifts focus to the argumentative aspect of the legal action.

is carrying on a prosecution against

Emphasizes the continuation of the prosecution.

has continued to prosecute

Highlights the sustained effort in prosecuting.

is handling the prosecution of

Focuses on the management and handling of the legal process.

FAQs

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

Use "has been prosecuting" to indicate an ongoing legal action that started in the past. For example, "The district attorney has been prosecuting the defendant for fraud."

What are some alternatives to "has been prosecuting"?

Alternatives include "is currently prosecuting", "has been pursuing a case against", or "is actively litigating against" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "has been prosecuting" for actions that have already finished?

No, "has been prosecuting" indicates an ongoing action. For completed actions, use the past tense, such as "prosecuted".

What's the difference between "has been prosecuting" and "prosecuted"?

"Has been prosecuting" describes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing, while "prosecuted" describes an action that was completed in the past.