has been underway

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been underway' is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used to refer to an ongoing activity that has already begun. For example, "The renovation project has been underway for several weeks now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Green says the process at London Met has been underway for some time.

The Guardian

Work to improve our representation and nurture talented presenters has been underway for a while.

The Guardian

BESIDE the riotous, relentless battle over Obamacare, a more tempered debate over health has been underway.

The Economist

Bulldozing in Gulou has been underway in earnest over the past few weeks.

The New York Times

Although campaigning has been underway for months, the official deadline for candidates to sign up is Friday.

The Guardian

This transition has been underway for years, more recently accelerated by big data and user-driven innovation.

The Guardian

The Israeli effort to erode any official Palestinian presence in Jerusalem has been underway for many years.

The New Yorker

Such a rethink has been underway for over a decade, and is finally ready to go into production.

The Economist

The ramp-up of this mine, which has been underway for around 12 months, will now take a further 12 months.

The Guardian - Business

As progress has been underway, it has become easier to assume that everything possible was being done and we could all move on.

The Guardian

(The mural was restored last year, and work to restore the Cloud Club from decades of neglect, water and vandalism has been underway for about a year).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been underway" to clearly indicate that a process, project, or activity started in the past and is still continuing into the present. This emphasizes the duration and ongoing nature of the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been underway" when referring to a completed action. This phrase is specifically for ongoing processes. Instead, use past tense forms like "was completed" or "concluded" for finished activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been underway" functions as a present perfect continuous construction, indicating an action or process that began in the past and is still continuing into the present. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase implies duration and ongoing activity. The examples from Ludwig showcase its application in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been underway" is a versatile phrase indicating that something began in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, especially in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, ensure you're referring to an ongoing process and not a completed action. For alternatives, consider "has been in progress" or "has been ongoing" to convey similar meanings. Remember that the appropriate use depends on the intended meaning and context, and that there are multiple ways to express the same idea with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been in progress

Replaces "underway" with a more literal synonym, focusing on the active development.

has been ongoing

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the activity.

has been happening

Offers a more general and less formal alternative to indicate that something is taking place.

has been in development

Highlights the developmental aspect of the ongoing activity.

is in motion

Suggests that activity has already started

has commenced

Replaces the more common term with a more formal synonym.

has been proceeding

Focuses on the forward movement and continuation of the activity.

is in the works

Emphasizes that an activity is in preparation or production.

has been activated

Suggests an action that has just been started or began

has come into effect

Focuses more on whether something has come into operation/force.

FAQs

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

The phrase "has been underway" indicates that an activity or process started in the past and is still continuing. For example, "The investigation "has been underway" for several weeks."

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

You can use alternatives like "has been in progress", "has been ongoing", or "is in motion" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "has been underway" or "is underway"?

"Has been underway" implies the activity started in the past and continues to the present, while "is underway" suggests the activity is currently happening. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration from a past starting point.

What is the difference between "has been underway" and "has begun"?

"Has begun" indicates the starting point of an activity, whereas "has been underway" emphasizes the continuing process after the start. "The project "has begun"" signals initiation, but "the project "has been underway" for six months" highlights its duration.