has been urging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been urging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been persistently encouraging or advocating for something over a period of time. Example: "The organization has been urging the government to take action on climate change for several years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Scott has been urging its completion.

The New York Times

Instead, Mr. Wilson has been urging Australians to eat kangaroos.

The New York Times - Science

His wife, Peggy, has been urging him to retire.

The New York Times

Governor Pataki has been urging reform for several years.

The New York Times

Some bad-hair fairy has been urging the company's women to change color.

The New York Times - Arts

Palaniappan Chidambaram, the finance minister, has been urging them to lend more to revive the economy.

The Economist

The administration has been urging states to set up exchanges, as Congress intended.

The New York Times

This is a tactic coach Pancho Segura has been urging on Jimmy Connors for years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr Erdoğan has been urging Mr Assad to meet their demands.

The Economist

The Somali government has been urging the United Nations to reconsider its withdrawal.

The New York Times

It is the very model that Deresiewicz has been urging us to smash.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required. While generally acceptable, "has been urging" might be replaced with a more formal alternative like "has been advocating" in highly formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "has been urging" if the urging was a one-time event. This phrase implies a continuous or repeated action over a period of time, not a single instance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been urging" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action (urging) that started in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been urging" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to express ongoing encouragement or advice. As confirmed by Ludwig, it sees frequent use in news, business, and academic contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it can be adapted based on surrounding language. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is urging and what action they are promoting, remembering that it implies a sustained effort, not a singular event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been advocating

Emphasizes public support or recommendation.

has been pushing for

Implies a strong effort to achieve a goal.

has been recommending

Suggests a formal endorsement or advice.

has been promoting

Focuses on raising awareness and support.

has been campaigning for

Suggests organized and active support.

has been lobbying for

Indicates attempts to influence decision-makers.

has been pressing for

Highlights persistent and assertive efforts.

has been advising

Implies guidance and counsel being given.

has been encouraging

Focuses on inspiring or motivating action.

has been prompting

Suggests initiating or instigating action.

FAQs

What does "has been urging" mean?

The phrase "has been urging" means someone has been persistently encouraging or advising someone else to do something.

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

You can use alternatives like "has been advocating", "has been pushing for", or "has been recommending" depending on the context.

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

For example, "The environmental group "has been urging" the government to adopt stricter regulations on emissions."

Is "has been urging" formal or informal?

"Has been urging" is generally suitable for neutral to formal contexts. In highly formal settings, consider using "has been advocating".