has been running for

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been running for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe the duration of an action or event that started in the past and is still ongoing. Here is an example: "The marathon has been running for over four hours and the finish line is finally in sight." In this example, "has been running for" indicates that the marathon started in the past and has been ongoing for a duration of four hours.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It has been running for almost three weeks.

The New York Times

"It has been running for months.

The Guardian

He has been running for President full time ever since.

The New Yorker

The show has been running for more than a decade.

The New York Times - Magazine

Their spat has been running for some time.

Independent

"That museum has been running for years glorifying Stalin".

The New York Times

"The show has been running for years now.

Independent

His show, which has been running for nine years (Feb.

The New Yorker

That operation, codenamed Tempora, has been running for 20 months.

The Guardian - Business

Now it has been running for several years.

The Guardian

Another dating site, uDate.com, has been running for a year.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been running for" to describe events or processes that started in the past and are still continuing into the present. Be sure to include a specific duration after 'for' to provide clear context.

Common error

Avoid using "has been running for" to describe events that have already finished. In such cases, use the past perfect continuous tense instead (e.g., "had been running for").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been running for" functions as part of the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action or state that began in the past and is still continuing up to the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been running for" is a versatile and grammatically sound construct used to denote the duration of an action or event that started in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples provided showcase its wide applicability across various domains, particularly in news, business, and science. When using this phrase, ensure the context reflects an ongoing activity. For variety, consider alternatives like "has continued for" or "has been ongoing for". Be mindful of tense consistency to avoid common errors. The frequent usage of "has been running for" in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian further validates its reliability and acceptance in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been ongoing for

Highlights the continuous nature of an activity or process.

has continued for

Replaces "running" with "continued", emphasizing the ongoing nature of something.

has been underway for

Implies that a project or activity has been in progress.

has lasted for

Focuses on the duration of an event or activity.

has existed for

Simple statement about how long something has been around.

has been in effect for

Emphasizes that something has been active or operational for a period.

has been in operation for

Highlights that something has remained functional or active during a certain period.

has persisted for

Suggests something has continued despite potential obstacles.

has been present for

Highlights that something has been there in a period.

has spanned

Concise expression to say that an activity has covered a period.

FAQs

How can I use "has been running for" in a sentence?

Use "has been running for" to describe how long an event, process, or activity has lasted from a point in the past until now. For example, "The program "has been running for" five years."

What are some alternatives to "has been running for"?

You can use alternatives like "has continued for", "has lasted for", or "has been ongoing for" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "has been running for" and "ran for"?

"Has been running for" indicates an action that began in the past and continues to the present. "Ran for" indicates a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been running for" an hour" vs "She ran for mayor last year."

Is it correct to say "has been running since" instead of "has been running for"?

While similar, they are used differently. "Has been running for" is followed by a duration of time (e.g., "for five years"), while "has been running since" is followed by a specific point in time (e.g., "since 2020").