has gradually been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has gradually been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or change that has occurred over time, often indicating a slow or incremental development. Example: "The climate has gradually been changing, leading to more extreme weather patterns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since then, Ruskin has gradually been rediscovered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Plant life has gradually been regenerating.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet the picture has gradually been changing.

The New York Times - Arts

That has gradually been coming through.

The New York Times

"Since 2012, my life has gradually been turned upside down.

The Guardian

Beijing has gradually been chipping away at Taiwan's overseas relationships.

The Guardian

The FHA has gradually been tightening its insurance criteria.

The Economist

Bloom has gradually been detaching himself from Yale and writing for a larger, non-specialist audience.

The Guardian - Books

In the decades since, the bus has gradually been garnering fans.

The New York Times

The core al-Qaida leadership has gradually been killed, mainly by drones.

The Guardian

Since 2011, though, the spending figure has gradually been falling back.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has gradually been" when you want to emphasize a slow, continuous process rather than a sudden shift.

Common error

Avoid using "has gradually been" for changes that happened abruptly or within a very short time. This phrase is appropriate only for processes extending over a noticeable duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has gradually been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating a process that unfolds incrementally over time. It is used to express the gradual development, transformation, or change of a subject, as seen in the examples provided by Ludwig. It emphasizes the ongoing and continuous nature of the process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has gradually been" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to describe processes that unfold slowly over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. Its usage spans across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing, although it is most frequently found in news sources. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context involves a genuine gradual change rather than an abrupt event. For those seeking alternative phrasing, options such as "has slowly become" or "has steadily evolved" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been slowly becoming

This alternative directly replaces "gradually" with its synonym "slowly" and slightly rephrases the verb.

has progressively developed

This alternative uses "progressively" to emphasize the ongoing development and progression.

has steadily evolved

This alternative focuses on the continuous and consistent evolution of something.

has incrementally changed

This alternative highlights the small, incremental nature of the change.

has been consistently growing

This alternative emphasizes the consistent growth or increase over time.

has subtly transformed

This alternative focuses on the subtle and often unnoticed nature of the transformation.

has been slowly emerging

This alternative is useful when talking about something not so obvious that comes up slowly through time.

has been developing over time

This alternative is a more explicit rephrasing that focuses on development over a period.

has altered bit by bit

This alternative emphasizes the small and successive changes that happen to something.

has morphed little by little

This alternative uses a more figurative language to talk about how something changed through time in small proportions.

FAQs

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

Use "has gradually been" to describe a process or change that has occurred incrementally over a period. For example, "The acceptance of remote work "has gradually been" increasing in recent years".

What are some alternatives to "has gradually been"?

You can use alternatives like "has slowly become", "has steadily evolved", or "has progressively developed" depending on the specific context.

Is "has gradually been" formal or informal?

"Has gradually been" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "has gradually been" and "has suddenly become"?

"Has gradually been" indicates a slow, continuous change over time, while "has suddenly become" suggests an abrupt and rapid transformation. The choice depends on the actual nature of the change you are describing.