has been pursuing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been pursuing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or effort that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor for several years now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cigna has been pursuing business overseas.

The New York Times

Barr has been pursuing a different course.

The New Yorker

The league has been pursuing those changes separately.

The New York Times - Sports

Amy Corbin has been pursuing Stevie Wonder for years.

The New York Times

Coty has been pursuing a deal with Avon for months.

The New York Times

The CIA has been pursuing Mughniyeh for years.

The Guardian

He has been pursuing his craft there ever since.

The New Yorker

New York State has been pursuing unpaid life policies independent of other states.

The New York Times - Health

He has been pursuing three tracks toward Palestinian statehood; all have proved problematic.

The New York Times

Ever restless, Mr. Harnoncourt, 80, has been pursuing other new horizons as well.

The New York Times - Arts

Furthermore, this particular frog has been pursuing the princess day and night.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been pursuing" to clearly indicate an ongoing action that started in the past and is still happening in the present. This emphasizes the duration and continued effort involved.

Common error

Avoid using "has been pursuing" when referring to a completed action. Instead, use the past perfect tense (had pursued) or simple past tense (pursued) to indicate the action is finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been pursuing" functions as a present perfect progressive verb phrase, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig shows its use across various contexts, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been pursuing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that serves to describe ongoing efforts toward a specific goal. As confirmed by Ludwig, it maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for diverse contexts ranging from news and media to scientific and formal business communications. Its prevalence in authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, further attests to its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been seeking

Focuses more on the act of searching or looking for something.

has been following

Suggests a path or lead is being traced or adhered to.

has been striving for

Emphasizes the effort and determination involved in achieving a goal.

has been working towards

Highlights the continuous effort and progress made in the direction of a specific aim.

has been aiming for

Implies a specific target or objective is being focused on.

has been trying to achieve

Focuses on the attempt to accomplish something, even if success is not guaranteed.

has been endeavoring to

Suggests a more formal and dedicated effort toward a goal.

has been dedicated to

Highlights commitment and devotion to a particular cause or objective.

has been engaged in

Suggests active participation or involvement in an activity or process.

has been occupied with

Indicates that someone's time and attention are being taken up by a particular activity or task.

FAQs

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

Use "has been pursuing" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "The company "has been pursuing" a new market strategy for the last year."

What can I say instead of "has been pursuing"?

You can use alternatives like "has been seeking", "has been following", or "has been striving for" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "has been pursuing" and "pursued"?

"Has been pursuing" indicates an ongoing action, while "pursued" indicates a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been pursuing" a career in medicine for five years" versus "She "pursued" a career in medicine after graduating."

Is "has been pursuing" formal or informal?

"Has been pursuing" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a versatile phrase that clearly communicates ongoing efforts.