has been referring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been referring" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has been mentioning or alluding to something over a period of time. Example: "In her recent articles, she has been referring to the importance of mental health in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Mr. Corzine has been referring to the shared pain required by residents to fix the budget practically since election night.

The New York Times

For the past several years, he has been referring to "the disaggregation of higher education," the breaking apart of university functions.

The New York Times

For the last week, Mark LeBrun, a die-hard Red Sox fan, has been referring to the Boston baseball club as "the team who shall not be named".

The New York Times - Sports

"That doesn't make any sense," said Thomas LaMacchia, treasurer of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, which has been referring widows to Goldis Financial.

The New York Times

Increasingly during our conversation he has been referring to his Icelandic boyfriend, who he'd prefer wasn't publicly named, so we'll just call him "X".

The Guardian - Music

At its weekly meetings, a Hahnemann committee has been referring patients who are ineligible for heart transplants for consideration as AbioCor recipients, Dr. Samuels said.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The case has been referred to prosecutors.

The New York Times

The obstetrician has been referred for further learning.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission IPCCC) for investigation.

The Guardian

The case has been referred to a county grand jury.

The New York Times

The matter has been referred to Commissioner Valentine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been referring" to indicate a continuous action of mentioning or alluding to something over a period of time. It's best suited when the act of referring is ongoing or has happened repeatedly.

Common error

Avoid using "has been referring" when a simple past tense like "referred" is more appropriate. For example, use "He referred to the document" instead of "He has been referring to the document" if the action happened once in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been referring" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. This tense indicates an action that began in the past and continues into the present, or has recently ceased. This is consistent with examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been referring" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts to describe an ongoing or repeated action of mentioning or alluding to something. While versatile, it's important to choose the correct tense to accurately convey the intended meaning, avoiding overuse when a simple past tense would suffice. The Ludwig AI analysis and examples show consistent usage across various reputable sources, reinforcing its validity and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been mentioning

Focuses more on the act of stating something briefly.

has been alluding to

Emphasizes indirect reference or suggestion.

has been making reference to

A more formal and emphatic way of saying 'referring to'.

has been indicating

Highlights the act of pointing something out.

has been citing

Focuses on quoting or referencing a specific source.

has been designating

Emphasizes the act of assigning a name or title.

has been terming

Implies the use of a specific term or label.

has been addressing

Highlights the act of dealing with a topic.

has been touching on

Suggests a brief mention of a topic.

has been speaking of

Emphasizes the act of discussing a topic at length.

FAQs

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

Use "has been referring" to describe an ongoing or repeated act of mentioning or alluding to something. For example, "The author "has been referring" to climate change throughout his book".

What are some alternatives to "has been referring"?

Alternatives include "has been mentioning", "has been alluding to", or "has been indicating". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'has referred' instead of "has been referring"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Has referred" implies a completed action, while "has been referring" implies an ongoing or repeated action over a period of time.

What's the difference between "has been referring" and "referred"?

"Referred" is the simple past tense, indicating a one-time action in the past. "Has been referring" is the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and is continuing or has recently stopped. For example, "He referred to the data yesterday" vs. "He "has been referring" to the data in all of his presentations this week".