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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
has been was
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "has been was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two different verb tenses that do not work together in standard English grammar. Example: "The project has been was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances." (This is incorrect.)
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
29 human-written examples
Mannone, a popular character wherever he has been, was warmly acclaimed by his team-mates for delivering them to Wembley.
News & Media
The oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, as horrible as it has been, was yet another opportunity.
News & Media
A 42-year-old woman has been was arrested by police investigating phone hacking, on suspicion of money-laundering offences.
News & Media
Ever since Kagan's thesis surfaced, of course, the big question around the conservative blogosphere has been: was (and is) the lady herself a (cover the children's ears) socialist?
News & Media
This week's row over child benefit, bitter and embarrassing though it has been, was merely a foretaste of the strife to come.
News & Media
I think the war in Iraq has been — was flawed not just in execution but in conception, and has done enormous damage to our standing around the world.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
30 human-written examples
This has been been corrected.
News & Media
Obama has been being president.
News & Media
"All there has been is totalitarian persecution".
News & Media
Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.
News & Media
That vine has been been growing slimmer and slimmer.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When constructing sentences, carefully consider the intended tense and use either "has been" for present perfect or "was" for simple past, avoiding the combination "has been was".
Common error
Avoid mixing present perfect and simple past tenses. The construction "has been was" inappropriately combines these, leading to grammatical errors. Choose the tense that accurately reflects the timing of the action.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "has been was" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to combine the present perfect auxiliary verb "has been" with the past simple verb "was", creating an ungrammatical construction. Ludwig AI confirms it is not correct in written English.
Frequent in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "has been was" is grammatically incorrect due to its improper combination of present perfect and simple past tenses. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this, indicating it's not correct in written English. The intended meaning is usually to describe a past state or action relevant to the present, but it fails to do so effectively. Correct alternatives include "has been" or "was", depending on the intended tense. It's best to avoid this phrase in formal and informal writing and speech to maintain grammatical accuracy.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
had been
Uses the past perfect tense to indicate an action completed before another point in the past.
has been
Uses the present perfect tense to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present.
was
Uses the simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past.
had been being
Uses the past perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration of an action completed before another point in the past.
has been being
Uses the present perfect continuous tense to emphasize the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
had had
Uses past perfect to indicate a state of being which predates another in the past.
has had
Uses present perfect to indicate a state of being which starts in the past and extends to the present.
was being
Uses the past continuous tense to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
is
Simple present tense to indicate the current state of a subject.
had
Uses the simple past tense to indicate a state of being in the past.
FAQs
What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "has been was"?
The phrase "has been was" combines present perfect ("has been") and simple past ("was") tenses incorrectly. Use "has been" for actions starting in the past that continue or have relevance to the present, or use "was" for completed past actions.
When should I use "has been" instead of "has been was"?
"Has been" is used to describe something that started in the past and continues to the present or has a result in the present. For example, "The project "has been delayed" due to weather conditions" is correct.
What are some alternatives to using "has been was" in a sentence?
Is "has been being" a correct alternative to "has been was"?
While "has been being" is grammatically correct, it indicates an action that started in the past and has been continuously happening. It is only a valid substitute for "has been was" if that is the intended meaning. Otherwise, "has been" or "was" are more appropriate.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested