has been through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been experienced or undergone in the past. For example, "He has been through a lot of hardship in his life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Canberra has been through enough.

The Guardian

He has been through all the excuses.

The New York Times

"Imagine what this gentleman has been through.

The New York Times

"My body has been through a lot.

Independent

She has been through this before.

The New York Times - Arts

The Yankees has been through there.

The New York Times

After everything he has been through?

Independent

It has been through economic devastation.

The New York Times

"Mitt has been through this before.

The New York Times

Underworld has been through many configurations.

The New York Times - Arts

The paper has been through other crises.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about an organization, use "has been through" to showcase resilience or adaptability to change. For example, "The company "has been through" several restructurings but remains a leader in its industry."

Common error

Don't use "has been through" as a way to dismiss someone's active participation or contribution. For example, instead of saying "She "has been through" the project," emphasize her specific actions and responsibilities: "She managed key aspects of the project and actively contributed to its success."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been through" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. Ludwig AI confirms it describes a completed action or experience that has relevance to the present, often implying a lasting impact. Many examples illustrate this usage, showing its ability to convey empathy or understanding when discussing someone's past experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been through" is a versatile verb phrase in the present perfect tense, commonly used to describe experiences or challenges that someone or something has undergone. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it indicates a completed action with relevance to the present, often implying a lasting impact. Its frequency is very common, predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, it's important to avoid using it as a passive substitute for active engagement and consider more specific alternatives like "has experienced" or "has faced" depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has experienced

Replaces "been through" with a more general term for undergoing something.

has undergone

Similar to 'has experienced' but often implies a more formal or significant process.

has faced

Emphasizes confronting challenges or difficulties.

has endured

Highlights the aspect of persisting through hardship.

has lived through

Implies surviving or witnessing a significant event or period.

has come through

Suggests successfully navigating a difficult situation.

has passed through

Focuses on moving from one state or condition to another.

has seen

Highlights witnessing or observing events or situations.

has dealt with

Implies managing or handling a specific issue or problem.

has navigated

Suggests skillfully managing a complex or challenging situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "has been through" to describe experiences or challenges someone or something has undergone. For instance, "He "has been through" a lot of changes recently" or "The organization "has been through" a major transformation".

What are some alternatives to "has been through"?

Some alternatives include "has experienced", "has undergone", or "has faced". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "has been through" and "went through"?

"Has been through" implies a completed action with potential lasting effects, connecting the past to the present. "Went through" simply describes a past action without necessarily emphasizing its present relevance. For example, "She "has been through" therapy and is now doing much better" (ongoing impact) vs. "She went through therapy last year" (past event).

Which is correct, "has been through" or "had been through"?

"Has been through" uses the present perfect tense, indicating a past experience with relevance to the present. "Had been through" uses the past perfect tense, indicating an experience completed before another point in the past. For instance, "She "has been through" a lot, which is why she's so strong now" vs. "She had been through a lot before she met him".