has steadily been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has steadily been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous or gradual change or development over time. Example: "The company's profits have steadily been increasing over the past three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But the former president has steadily been outflanked.

The Economist

Xi has steadily been through these tests," said Zhang.

The Guardian

The dollar has steadily been losing value in the foreign-exchange markets.

The Economist

Washington, glued to the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate, has steadily been losing influence in the Middle East.

The New York Times

"Since that time our assistance has steadily been ramping up," he said.

The Guardian

The campaign against the pipeline has steadily been gaining in momentum amid concerns about pipeline safety.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The club has steadily being growing on and off the field for the last five years and we aim to win something".

BBC

Perhaps that is just as well, because scientific estimates of the rate of climate change have steadily been downgraded.

The Economist

By contrast, Chitral attracted only 604 international visitors in 2011 and numbers have steadily been falling every year since.

Independent

Oxfam warns benefit levels have steadily been falling since the link with earnings was broken in 1980.

The Guardian

Mr. McNealy explained that he called because corporate customers had steadily been telling him to "cut the rhetoric, Scott".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "has steadily been", ensure that the context implies a gradual change or progression, not an abrupt shift. Avoid using it when referring to sudden or immediate changes.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence when using "has steadily been". Maintain consistency by ensuring that the subsequent part of the sentence aligns with the present perfect continuous tense. For example, avoid constructions like "The number of users has steadily been increasing, and now it doubled suddenly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has steadily been" functions as part of the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action or process that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing its ongoing and progressive nature. As confirmed by Ludwig, it expresses a continuing action or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has steadily been" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe a gradual and continuous process or state. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase effectively communicates ongoing trends and developments, as seen in numerous examples across diverse fields. Its usage spans news media, scientific research, and formal business communications, indicating its versatility and broad applicability. While ""has steadily been"" is generally neutral in tone, users should ensure consistent tense usage and avoid abrupt shifts in the sentence's context. Alternative phrases like "has consistently been" or "has gradually been" can provide subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has consistently been

Emphasizes the regularity and unbroken nature of the process.

has gradually been

Highlights the slow and incremental nature of the change.

has progressively been

Focuses on the forward movement and advancement of the process.

has continually been

Stresses the uninterrupted sequence of events.

has constantly been

Underscores the persistent and unchanging nature of the action.

has increasingly been

Indicates a growing or intensifying trend.

has perpetually been

Suggests an ongoing and seemingly endless state.

has unceasingly been

Highlights the lack of interruption or cessation.

has relentlessly been

Emphasizes the forceful and persistent nature of the action.

has systematically been

Indicates a structured and methodical approach to the process.

FAQs

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

"Has steadily been" is used to describe a continuous or gradual change over time. For example, "The temperature "has steadily been" rising throughout the week".

What can I say instead of "has steadily been"?

You can use alternatives like "has consistently been", "has gradually been", or "has progressively been" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "has steadily been" and "has continuously been"?

While both phrases indicate an ongoing action, ""has steadily been"" implies a more gradual and consistent pace, whereas "has continuously been" simply means without interruption.

Can "has steadily been" be used for negative trends?

Yes, ""has steadily been"" can describe negative trends as well. For example, "The company's profits "has steadily been" declining over the past year".