has been retaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been retaining" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been held or maintained for a continuous period of time. For example, "The company has been retaining its top spot in the industry for over a decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Its most pressing personnel challenge has been retaining employees who are lured away by other tech companies competing for engineers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The basic industry has been retained.

Yale University

Original Huntington Free Library box number has been retained.

Cornell University

She has been retained as an adviser.

The New York Times

In these cases, the final name has been retained.

Columbia University

A specialist firm of bailiffs has been retained.

The Guardian

This essence has been retained in the play.

The Guardian - Books

TRIATHLON INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON UNION--Announced Les McDonald, president, has been retained.

The New York Times - Sports

A standalone goal on gender equality has been retained (SDG5).

The Guardian

Much of Starr Boggs' staff has been retained.

The New York Times

The $448m promised to Papua New Guinea has been retained.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been retaining" to emphasize the continuous nature of an action, indicating that something has been held or maintained over a period of time. For instance, "The company has been retaining its market share despite increased competition."

Common error

Avoid using "has been retaining" when referring to a completed action in the past. Use the simple past tense instead. For example, instead of "The museum has been retaining the artifact last year", use "The museum retained the artifact last year."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been retaining" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that began in the past and is continuing into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been retaining" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, used to emphasize the continuous action of maintaining something. Although Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is rare. The phrase appears in diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science, denoting a neutral register. When writing, remember to use "has been retaining" to emphasize continuous actions and avoid using it for completed past actions. Consider alternatives such as "has continued to hold" or "has consistently maintained" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has continued to hold

Emphasizes the continuation of holding onto something.

has consistently maintained

Highlights the consistent effort in maintaining something.

has kept holding onto

Focuses on the act of keeping something in one's possession.

has been keeping a hold of

Indicates a firm grip or control being maintained.

has preserved

Stresses the act of preserving something from decay or loss.

has been preserving

Emphasizes the ongoing action of preservation.

has been holding steady

Implies maintaining a stable position or condition.

has not relinquished

Indicates a refusal to let go of something.

has been sustaining

Highlights the act of supporting or keeping something going.

has been upholding

Implies maintaining a principle or standard.

FAQs

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

Use "has been retaining" to describe an ongoing action of keeping something. For example, "The organization "has been retaining" its membership base through innovative programs."

What are some alternatives to "has been retaining"?

You can use alternatives like "has continued to hold", "has consistently maintained", or "has kept holding onto" depending on the context.

Is "has been retaining" grammatically correct?

Yes, "has been retaining" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "retain", indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.

What is the difference between "has been retaining" and "has retained"?

"Has been retaining" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, while "has retained" simply states that something has been kept or held. For example, "The company "has retained" its employees" implies a completed action, while "The company "has been retaining" its employees" suggests an ongoing effort to keep them.