has been talking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been talking" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been talking about her plans for the summer vacation for weeks now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fleiss has been talking for some time.

The New Yorker

Mary has been talking to a friend".

Independent

Mr. Pataki has been talking about leadership.

The New York Times

Everyone has been talking about it.

The Guardian

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has been talking politics again.

The New York Times

Sita has been talking -- with reserve.

The New York Times

Microsoft has been talking about this for over a year.

The Guardian - Tech

Mary has been talking to a friend on Skype.

The New Yorker

Kanye West has been talking a lot recently.

The New Yorker

Everyone has been talking about this game for weeks".

The New York Times

In particular, it has been talking to the LSE.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific, completed conversation, use the simple past tense: "He talked to the manager yesterday."

Common error

Avoid using "has been talking" when the conversation is already completed. Use the simple past tense "talked" instead. For example, instead of saying "He "has been talking" to her yesterday", say "He talked to her yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been talking" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. This indicates an action that began in the past and is still ongoing or has recently ceased. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been talking" is a grammatically correct and common way to describe an ongoing conversation or discussion that started in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and examples show frequent usage across news, academic, and business contexts. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives like ""has been discussing"" in specific settings. Avoid using it when referring to completely finished conversations; use the simple past tense instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been discussing

Focuses on a more formal or structured conversation.

has been conversing

Implies a two-way exchange of ideas, often more formal.

has been speaking

Emphasizes the act of vocalizing thoughts or ideas.

has been mentioning

Indicates a brief or casual reference to a topic.

has been negotiating

Suggests a formal discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

has been hinting

Implies a subtle or indirect way of communicating.

has been sounding out

Suggests exploring opinions or ideas without committing.

has been communicating

Broadly refers to any form of conveying information.

has been reporting

Focuses on conveying factual information or news.

has been proclaiming

Emphasizes a strong, public declaration of beliefs.

FAQs

How do I use "has been talking" in a sentence?

Use "has been talking" to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. For instance, "The company "has been discussing" the possibility of a merger for months".

What's the difference between "has been talking" and "talked"?

"Has been talking" indicates a continuing action, while "talked" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been talking" about moving to Europe" (ongoing), versus "She talked about her trip to Europe" (completed).

What can I say instead of "has been talking"?

You can use alternatives like ""has been discussing"", "has been mentioning", or "has been speaking", depending on the context.

Is "has been talking" formal or informal?

"Has been talking" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The specific context will determine the overall tone.