has been sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been sick" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has experienced illness over a period of time leading up to the present. Example: "She has been sick for the past week, and we hope she recovers soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She has been sick.

The Guardian

Perhaps Mr Putin really has been sick.

The Economist

She has been sick constantly.

The Washington Post

"My mom has been sick; my dad has been sick.

The New York Times - Sports

My wife has been sick, my daughter has been sick and my mother-in-law has been sick.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She has been sick since 1996.

The New York Times

He has been sick with worry and struggled to sleep.

The Guardian

She has been sick this last year & in the hospital.

The New Yorker

Mr. Hazare has been sick, and his doctor had advised him against fasting.

The New York Times

He said, 'Yeah, our patient has been sick for a couple of days.

The New Yorker

Mr Conté, who took power in a coup in 1984, has been sick for several years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been sick", ensure the timeframe is clear, either explicitly stated ("has been sick for a week") or implied by context. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been sick" when referring to a single, completed instance of vomiting. Instead, use "was sick" or "threw up" to describe a one-time event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been sick" functions as a present perfect continuous tense construction. It describes a state of illness that began in the past and continues to the present or has recently ceased, as evidenced by examples from Ludwig. It indicates a condition that has persisted over a period of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been sick" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a state of illness that has persisted over time. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across various contexts, from news reports to personal conversations. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider the specific context and ensure clarity regarding the timeframe of the illness. Alternative phrases, such as "has been unwell" or "has been ailing", can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been unwell

Replaces "sick" with a more formal synonym, "unwell".

has been ailing

Suggests a prolonged period of sickness or declining health.

has suffered from illness

Emphasizes the experience of enduring an illness.

has experienced ill health

Highlights the overall state of poor health.

has had health problems

Indicates ongoing or recurring health issues.

has been under the weather

Describes a mild or temporary state of illness.

has been laid up with

Implies being confined or incapacitated due to illness.

has been hospitalized for

Indicates that the person's condition required hospital care.

has struggled with a condition

Highlights the ongoing effort to manage a health issue.

has battled an illness

Conveys a sense of fighting against a serious disease.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been sick" to describe a state of illness that has persisted over time. For example, "She "has been sick" for a week, so she hasn't been to school".

What's a more formal alternative to "has been sick"?

A more formal alternative to "has been sick" is "has been unwell". This option is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "has been sick"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "has been sick" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that someone has experienced illness over a period of time leading up to the present.

What's the difference between "has been sick" and "was sick"?

"Has been sick" implies an illness that started in the past and may continue to the present, while "was sick" refers to a specific instance or period of illness that is now finished. For example, you would use "has been sick" if someone is still recovering, but "was sick" if they recovered already.