has been stopping

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been stopping" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something has been happening up until the present moment and is continuing to do so. For example, "He has been stopping by every week to check on her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Since last October, Anderson has been stopping by the Embassy regularly.

The New Yorker

If the Jets' second-ranked defense has a weakness, it has been stopping the run.

The New York Times

Head writer Steven Moffat said: "For years, the Doctor has been stopping everyone else from conquering the world.

Independent

Old Town's latest offering, though, has been stopping visitors in their tracks since it opened in January.

The New York Times

"For eight years George Pataki has been promising it, Joe Bruno has been stopping it," Mr. McCall said.

The New York Times

You discovered quantum dots in the 80s – what else has been stopping you from using them until now?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Everything has been stopped".

The New York Times

The check has been stopped.

Yale University

It has been stopped, temporarily.

The Guardian

The experiment has been stopped.

The New York Times

Now that has been stopped," Riasat said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been stopping" to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. Ensure the context implies a repetitive or ongoing nature, not a one-time occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "has been stopping" when referring to an action that has definitively concluded. Use the past perfect continuous ("had been stopping") or simple past ("stopped") to correctly indicate the action's completion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been stopping" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that began in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been stopping" is a present perfect continuous phrase used to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. It is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly News & Media. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is used correctly, and you can find many examples in reliable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian and The Washington Post. Remember to use it to indicate an action that is ongoing, and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "has been halting" or "has been preventing" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been halting

Replaces "stopping" with "halting", implying a more abrupt cessation.

has been impeding

Substitutes "stopping" with "impeding", focusing on obstruction or hindrance.

has been preventing

Replaces "stopping" with "preventing", emphasizing the act of averting something.

has been curbing

Changes "stopping" to "curbing", indicating a restriction or limitation.

has been checking

Uses "checking" instead of "stopping", suggesting a slowing or controlling action.

has been deterring

Replaces "stopping" with "deterring", highlighting the act of discouraging or dissuading.

has been obstructing

Substitutes "stopping" with "obstructing", emphasizing the blocking of progress or movement.

has been interrupting

Changes "stopping" to "interrupting", indicating a temporary cessation.

has been suspending

Replaces "stopping" with "suspending", suggesting a temporary removal or cessation.

has been discontinuing

Substitutes "stopping" with "discontinuing", emphasizing the act of ending something permanently.

FAQs

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

Use "has been stopping" to indicate an action that began in the past and is still ongoing. For example, "The injunction "has been stopping" the DoJ from denying public safety grants."

What are some alternatives to "has been stopping"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "has been halting", "has been preventing", or "has been curbing" as alternatives.

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

Use "has been stopping" for actions continuing into the present. Use "had been stopping" for actions completed in the past before another point in time. The choice depends on whether the action is ongoing or finished.

What's the difference between "has been stopping" and "is stopping"?

"Has been stopping" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and continues to the present, while "is stopping" refers to an action happening right now. For example, "He "is stopping" the car" versus "He "has been stopping" by every week."