have been competing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been competing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present, often in contexts related to sports, business, or any competitive scenario. Example: "The two companies have been competing for market share for over a decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

India's athletes have been competing as independents.

The Guardian - Sport

She would have been competing in her first Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

For months, states have been competing for the financing.

The New York Times

Candidates have been competing, noted Khamenei, "to vilify" Iran.

The Guardian

I have been competing since I was 12 years old.

The Guardian - Sport

Alternate-universe President Hillary Clinton would have been competing with a dream.

The New York Times - Magazine

There have been competing visions for the future of the firm among executives.

The Economist

We have been competing with the Journal for a long time and winning," she said.

The Guardian

The city's all-stars have been competing this week in Aberdeen.

The New York Times - Sports

The farmers have been competing to stand out as local stars.

The New York Times - Tech

Procter & Gamble and Unilever have been competing vigorously in the hair care market.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been competing" to describe an ongoing rivalry or contest that began in the past and continues to the present. This accurately conveys the duration and sustained nature of the competition.

Common error

Avoid using "have been competing" to describe a competition that has already concluded entirely. Use a past tense form such as "competed" or "were competing" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been competing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has relevance to the present. Ludwig's examples show this phrase used to describe sustained rivalries or ongoing contests.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been competing" is a versatile and frequently used present perfect continuous verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it correctly describes sustained competition that began in the past and continues into the present. It's appropriate for neutral and professional contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business reporting. To ensure accuracy, remember to use this phrase for ongoing activities, and reserve past tense forms for competitions that have already concluded. Using the phrase correctly allows you to accurately express persistent rivalries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been contending

Focuses on the struggle or effort involved in competing.

have been vying

Emphasizes the ambition and desire to win.

have been battling

Highlights the intensity and conflict within the competition.

have been challenging

Focuses on presenting a difficulty or opposition to others.

have been opposing

Emphasizes direct resistance or contrasting views.

have been rivalling

Stresses the existence of a peer competitor or rival.

have been struggling

Highlights the difficulty and effort required to compete.

have been facing off

Implies a direct confrontation or showdown.

have been going head-to-head

Emphasizes direct competition between two parties.

have been in contention

Indicates active participation and a possibility of winning.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been competing" to describe an ongoing rivalry, for example, "The two companies "have been competing" for market share for years."

What are some alternatives to "have been competing"?

Alternatives include "have been contending", "have been vying", or "have been battling", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "have been competing" and "competed"?

"Have been competing" indicates an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present, while "competed" refers to a completed action in the past.

When is it appropriate to use "have been competing" instead of "were competing"?

"Have been competing" is used when the competition is still ongoing, whereas "were competing" is used when the competition occurred in the past but is no longer active.