has generally been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has generally been" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express a general truth or state of affairs that has remained in place over a period of time. For example: "The use of fossil fuels for transportation has generally been the most popular option."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"That has generally been the pattern".

The Guardian

In agriculture, the warmth has generally been welcome.

The New York Times

"The question has generally been infrastructure access to that region".

The New York Times

Certainly, cinema's fascination with them has generally been solicitous.

The Guardian - Film

And government has generally been unable or unwilling to intervene.

The New York Times - Sports

But the reaction has generally been "thanks, but no thanks".

The New York Times

Despite this, the Islamic political discourse has generally been balanced.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The Texas press has generally been very kind to him).

The New Yorker

Space has generally been about catastrophe in pop culture.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Arafat, 75, has generally been in good health.

The New York Times

Crawford has generally been regarded as a hybrid.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has generally been", ensure the statement is supported by evidence or widely accepted knowledge to maintain credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "has generally been" if the statement is based on limited observations or lacks sufficient evidence. Overgeneralizing can weaken your argument and reduce credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has generally been" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a condition or state that has persisted over time. It connects a subject with a characteristic or attribute that is broadly true, reflecting trends or common observations. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for describing prevailing situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has generally been" is a versatile phrase used to describe ongoing trends, common characteristics, or typical states. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for expressing widely accepted conditions or trends. It is frequently used in news, science, and formal business contexts and is best used when supported by evidence or widely accepted knowledge. The phrase's high frequency and presence across various reputable sources underscore its reliability and widespread acceptance. Remember to avoid overgeneralization and to consider alternative phrases to adjust the emphasis or formality as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has typically been

Adds 'typically' to emphasize common practice, making it slightly more specific.

has frequently been

Emphasizes frequency, providing a more intense version of 'generally'.

is by and large

Similar in meaning but introduces a more idiomatic expression indicating overall trends.

is typically

Focuses on typicality or common occurrence, reducing emphasis on the past.

is usually

Emphasizes the usual or customary nature of something, lessening the focus on historical trends.

is for the most part

Indicates prevalence or dominance, slightly altering the tone.

is commonly

Highlights commonality and widespread occurrence, differing in syntactic structure.

is often

Focuses on the frequency of something, making it slightly less formal.

is known to be

Indicates widespread knowledge or recognition, shifting from general trends to acknowledged facts.

tends to be

Highlights a tendency or inclination, rather than a strict pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "has generally been" in a sentence?

Use "has generally been" to describe a state, condition, or trend that has been true over a period of time. For example, "The weather "has generally been" mild this winter".

What phrases are similar to "has generally been"?

Similar phrases include "is typically", "is usually", or "has typically been", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "have generally been" instead of "has generally been"?

No, "have generally been" is used with plural subjects, while "has generally been" is used with singular subjects. For example, "They "have generally been" helpful", but "He "has generally been" supportive".

What is the difference between "has generally been" and "was generally"?

"Has generally been" implies a trend that started in the past and continues to the present, while "was generally" refers to a trend that occurred in the past but may not be true anymore. For instance, "Interest rates "has generally been" low recently" versus "Interest rates "was generally" high in the 1980s".