has been wasting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been wasting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present, often implying a sense of loss or inefficiency. Example: "He has been wasting his time on unproductive activities instead of focusing on his goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Unfortunately, the country has been wasting this winter of recuperation.

The New York Times

For too long, he said, his target audience has been wasting money on things like lottery tickets.

The New York Times

Society has been wasting not only their time but also their voices, agency and potential — for years.

The Washington Post

Or is Dutton admitting the government has been wasting money, all in the name of trying to wedge the opposition and please talkback hosts?

The Guardian - Business

The actress and her clingy dress received most of the attention, but Jeff Bridges, as a jazz pianist who has been wasting his talent in dives was its truer star.

The New York Times

Starboard contends that since Mayer became CEO in July 2012, Yahoo has been wasting money on ill-advised acquisitions and a bloated payroll while mismanaging its lucrative stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Not all the money has been wasted.

The New York Times

True, plenty has been wasted.

The New York Times

A lot of work has been wasted".

The New York Times

Too much time has been wasted.

The New York Times

"Much investor trust has been wasted.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been wasting", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being wasted (time, money, resources) to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The company has been wasting resources on ineffective marketing campaigns."

Common error

Avoid using "has been wasting" when describing a completed action in the past. Use the past simple tense instead. For example, instead of "He has been wasting his money last year", say "He wasted his money last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been wasting" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present, emphasizing the duration and ongoing nature of the wasting. As Ludwig AI points out, this implies inefficiency or misuse of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been wasting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, primarily functioning to express ongoing inefficient or unwise use of resources. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for various contexts. Its usage is particularly frequent in News & Media. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being wasted and avoid using it for completed actions. Related phrases like "has squandered" and "has frittered away" can offer nuanced alternatives. With a strong source quality score and expert rating, "has been wasting" stands as a reliable and effective expression in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has squandered

Emphasizes reckless and foolish spending or loss.

has frittered away

Suggests wasting time or money on trivial things.

has misspent

Focuses on spending something unwisely or inappropriately.

has thrown away

Implies a complete and irreversible loss.

has misused

Highlights the improper or incorrect use of something.

has failed to capitalize on

Indicates a missed opportunity to gain an advantage.

has neglected

Suggests a lack of attention or care, leading to waste.

has let slip

Implies losing something gradually or unintentionally.

has idled away

Focuses on wasting time by being lazy or inactive.

has lost

A general term for no longer having something valuable.

FAQs

What does "has been wasting" mean?

"Has been wasting" indicates that someone or something has continuously used resources, time, or opportunities inefficiently or unwisely over a period of time.

What are some alternatives to "has been wasting"?

You can use alternatives such as "has squandered", "has frittered away", or "has misspent" depending on the specific context.

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

Use "has been wasting" to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present, often implying a sense of loss or inefficiency. For example, "The government has been wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary projects."

What's the difference between "has been wasting" and "wasted"?

"Has been wasting" describes a continuous action, while "wasted" describes a completed action. For example, "He has been wasting his time all day" (continuous) versus "He wasted his time yesterday" (completed).