has exactly been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has exactly been" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or incorrect.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize the precise nature of a past action or state, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "The project has exactly been completed on time, as promised."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Not that Aronofsky has exactly been ignored by the studios.

Independent

Not that Buffon has exactly been short-changed when it comes to defensive team-mates.

The Guardian - Sport

I totally agree that the threat of "new" Aaliyah and Cobain music is worrying: neither artist's catalogue has exactly been left alone in recent years, and if either artist had anything of worth in the vaults it would have been released long ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

FMRT data analysis, paragraph 3 - "To ensure comparability…": I don't understand what is meant by "comparability" (i.e., with what?) or what has exactly been done here.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Note that if F is minimal, G− F has exactly be two connected components.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

Not that central bankers have exactly been sitting on their hands.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, he hasn't exactly been having a brilliant season.

Huffington Post

Take Murray, who has not exactly been slacking off.

The New York Times - Sports

"We've not exactly been lucky have we?

Independent

He has not exactly been appointed.

The New York Times

His career has not exactly been straightforward.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rewording the sentence to improve readability, as "has exactly been" can sometimes sound awkward. For example, instead of "The project has exactly been completed on time", try "The project was completed on time, as promised".

Common error

Avoid using "has exactly been" when a simpler tense or adverb would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnatural and overly formal. It's frequently better to use “has been” or “was” with a more descriptive adverb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has exactly been" functions primarily as part of the present perfect tense, modified by the adverb "exactly" to emphasize the precision or accuracy of the action. It aims to highlight that something occurred in a very specific manner. Ludwig AI suggests that it is better to rephrase for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has exactly been" is grammatically acceptable, although it is uncommon and may sound awkward in certain contexts. Ludwig AI suggests rephrasing to improve readability. Its primary function is to emphasize the precision or accuracy of a past action or state, and it appears most frequently in news and scientific sources. While the phrase isn't incorrect, it's often more effective to use simpler alternatives like "has precisely been" or "has specifically been" or to reword the sentence for better clarity. When considering usage, ensure that you genuinely intend to emphasize the precision of the action or state and be mindful of the potential for overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has precisely been

Replaces 'exactly' with 'precisely', emphasizing accuracy and detail.

has specifically been

Substitutes 'exactly' with 'specifically', highlighting a particular instance or detail.

has accurately been

Replaces 'exactly' with 'accurately', focusing on correctness and truth.

has correctly been

Substitutes 'exactly' with 'correctly', highlighting the state of being without errors.

has truly been

Replaces 'exactly' with 'truly', emphasizing genuineness and authenticity.

has demonstrably been

Uses 'demonstrably' instead of 'exactly', suggesting that something has been proven or shown.

has verifiably been

Replaces 'exactly' with 'verifiably', emphasizing that something can be confirmed or validated.

has manifestly been

Uses 'manifestly' instead of 'exactly', indicating that something is obvious or clear.

has evidently been

Replaces 'exactly' with 'evidently', suggesting that something is apparent or clear from the evidence.

has undoubtedly been

Substitutes 'exactly' with 'undoubtedly', emphasizing certainty and lack of doubt.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has exactly been" for better clarity?

You can use alternatives like "has precisely been", "has specifically been", or use a simpler tense such as "was" or "has been" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "has exactly been"?

Use "has exactly been" when you want to emphasize the precise or accurate nature of a past action or state. However, be mindful that it's better to rephrase for clarity. Consider using more common alternatives if emphasis isn't crucial.

Is "has exactly been" grammatically incorrect?

No, "has exactly been" is not grammatically incorrect, but it is considered an uncommon phrasing that may sound awkward or unnatural. Ludwig AI indicates that it's acceptable but suggests rephrasing for better clarity.

What is the difference between "has exactly been" and "has been"?

"Has been" is a common and versatile phrase used to indicate that something existed or occurred in the past. "Has exactly been" adds emphasis to the precision or accuracy of the action or state. However, "has exactly been" is not common and may benefit from a simpler form.