has been selling

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been selling' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a form of the verb 'to sell' in the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that has been happening over a period of time up until now. For example: "This store has been selling clothes since 2004."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, Mr. Falcone has been selling investments.

The New York Times

The Garden has been selling out.

The New York Times - Sports

bookstore has been selling A.C.C.-branded T-shirts since December.

The New York Times - Sports

What he has been selling ever since is Brand Beckham.

The New York Times - Sports

HSBC has been selling assets to streamline its business.

The New York Times

Ben Jassens, from London, has been selling hand over fist.

The New York Times - Arts

GreenRoad has been selling the technology to trucking companies.

The New York Times

Powermat has been selling stand-alone devices since last fall.

The New York Times - Tech

Others suspect North Korea has been selling off gold reserves.

The Guardian

The DanTDM tour has been selling out UK theatres.

The Guardian - Tech

Since 2014, Malta has been selling passports to wealthy foreigners.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been selling" to describe an ongoing sales activity that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, "The company has been selling its products online since 2010."

Common error

Avoid using "has been selling" when referring to a completed action in the past. Instead, use "sold." For example, don't say "The store has been selling all its inventory last week;" say "The store sold all its inventory last week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been selling" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action that began in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been selling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that indicates an ongoing action of selling. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and Ludwig's examples showcase its prevalence across diverse sources, including news outlets, business publications, and scientific articles. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various communication styles. When writing, ensure that you use "has been selling" to accurately describe ongoing sales activities, avoiding its use for completed past actions. Related phrases like "has been marketing" or "has been retailing" can offer nuanced alternatives, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been marketing

Focuses more on the promotional activities related to selling.

has been retailing

Specifically implies selling to consumers.

has been distributing

Highlights the process of making products available for sale.

has been offering for sale

A more formal way of saying something is available to purchase.

has been vending

Suggests selling goods, often from a stall or machine.

has been trading

Implies an exchange, which can include selling.

has been auctioning

Specifically refers to selling through an auction.

has been peddling

Can imply selling something of questionable value or quality.

has been wholesaling

Indicates selling goods in bulk to retailers.

has been liquidating

Suggests selling assets to convert them into cash, often due to financial distress.

FAQs

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

Use "has been selling" to describe an action of selling that started in the past and continues to the present. For example: "The artist "has been selling" paintings at the local market for years."

What are some alternatives to "has been selling"?

You can use alternatives like "has been marketing", "has been retailing", or "has been distributing" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "has been selling" and "sold"?

"Has been selling" indicates an ongoing activity that started in the past, while "sold" refers to a completed action. For example, "The company "has been selling" electric cars for five years" versus "The company "sold" 1000 electric cars last year."

Is it correct to say "has been selling" or "had been selling"?

"Has been selling" is present perfect continuous, used for actions continuing to the present. "Had been selling" is past perfect continuous, used for actions continuing up to a point in the past. The choice depends on the timeline you're describing.