have been acknowledging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been acknowledging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been recognizing or admitting something over a period of time. Example: "We have been acknowledging the contributions of our team members in our monthly meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

American military officials have been acknowledging lately that insurgents have infiltrated the ranks of the new security forces and are undoubtedly passing on information.

The New York Times

On another, he might well have been acknowledging the strange isolation of his surreal situation, the awkwardness of the calculations and caution it requires.

The New York Times

Mr. Chávez may have been acknowledging the possible disintegration of the group when he said in his televised remarks on Sunday, "The guerrilla war is history".

The New York Times

When Nadella elaborated on what he has learned from past acquisitions, he might as well have been acknowledging the whole history that brought Microsoft from Zuckerberg's doorstep to Weiner's: "Of course," he said, "we've learned from our mistakes".

The New Yorker

The wiser and most honest conservatives among us have been acknowledging, in the past few weeks, that the ascent of Donald Trump is a huge and historic mistake — but they also want to insist that he's not just their huge historic mistake.

The New Yorker

For more than 100 years, people around the globe have been acknowledging this day -- March 8 -- as International Women's Day.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Sometimes they have been acknowledged and appreciated, and sometimes not.

The Guardian - Film

Mistakes have been acknowledged and many horrible consequences detailed.

The Guardian

"Facts that could be qualified as sexual assault have been acknowledged," the statement said.

The New York Times

But these problems have been acknowledged and addressed by the German government.

The New York Times

I don't mean to say that this particular piece should have been acknowledged.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been acknowledging" to indicate a gradual or ongoing process of recognizing something, particularly when highlighting a change in perspective or acceptance over time.

Common error

Avoid using "have been acknowledging" when a simple past tense like "acknowledged" or present perfect tense like "have acknowledged" would be more appropriate for a completed or singular event. "Have been acknowledging" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been acknowledging" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect progressive tense. It indicates an action of recognizing or admitting something that has been ongoing over a period. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe ongoing recognition of facts, mistakes or contributions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been acknowledging" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the present perfect progressive tense, used to describe the ongoing act of recognizing or admitting something. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, its frequency is classified as uncommon. The phrase is versatile, fitting into neutral to formal communication, but it is particularly suited to contexts where the process and evolution of recognition are being emphasized. Consider alternatives like "have been recognizing" or "have started to acknowledge" for variety or emphasis. Be mindful of the continuous nature of the tense to avoid misapplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been recognizing

Uses a synonym for 'acknowledging', maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

have been admitting

Indicates a concession of truth, implying a previous denial or resistance.

have begun acknowledging

Highlights the initiation of the act of acknowledging, suggesting a change in behavior.

have started to acknowledge

Similar to 'have begun acknowledging', but with a slightly different emphasis on the commencement of the action.

have recently acknowledged

Focuses on the recency of the acknowledgment, implying that it's a new development.

are now acknowledging

Shifts the focus to the present moment, emphasizing the current act of acknowledging.

have publicly acknowledged

Emphasizes that the acknowledgment has been made openly and to a wider audience.

have come to acknowledge

Highlights the process or journey leading to the act of acknowledging.

have quietly acknowledged

Suggests a discreet or subdued form of acknowledgment, possibly avoiding attention.

have tacitly acknowledged

Implies acknowledgment through actions or lack of denial, rather than explicit statements.

FAQs

How can I use "have been acknowledging" in a sentence?

Use "have been acknowledging" to describe a continuous or repeated action of recognizing or admitting something. For example, "Scientists "have been acknowledging" the effects of climate change for decades."

What's a more formal alternative to "have been acknowledging"?

Consider using phrases like "have consistently recognized", "have duly noted", or "have formally recognized" as more formal alternatives. For example: "The committee "have been acknowledging" the contributions of all members" could be rephrased to "The committee has formally recognized the contributions of all members."

Is there a difference between "have been acknowledging" and "have acknowledged"?

Yes, "have been acknowledging" implies a continuous action over time, while "have acknowledged" suggests a completed action. "We "have been acknowledging" the problem" suggests an ongoing awareness. "We have acknowledged the problem" simply states that you recognized it at some point.

What can I say instead of "have been acknowledging" in less formal contexts?

In informal settings, you might use phrases like "have been seeing", "have been noticing", or "have been aware of". For example, instead of saying "We "have been acknowledging" your efforts", you could say "We've been noticing your efforts".