have been continued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been continued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or state has persisted over a period of time up to the present. Example: "The discussions regarding the new policy have been continued for several months now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, there have been continued concerns about the outlook for Europe.

The New York Times

4. Negotiations with the Miami relatives were near success and should have been continued.

The New York Times

There have been continued concerns about match fixing and about the integrity of Nikolay Davydenko, the men's No. 4 player.

The New York Times - Sports

(And yes, the feds have an influence: the Recovery Act contained substantial aid to lower levels of government, which should have been continued).

The New York Times

These "mixed naval and military manoeuvres" were first introduced by Admiral Montecuccoli some years ago and have been continued every summer.

The New York Times

He suggested that a better approach for the governor would have been continued negotiation, rather than taking his case to the people.

The New York Times

There have been continued concerns about doping, with Martina Hingis retiring suddenly last week and revealing that she had tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon.

The New York Times - Sports

And in the last several weeks, there have been continued protests in El Cajon in southern California and in Charlotte, North Carolina, in response to two killings.

The Guardian

However, there have been continued reports of abuses, including Indonesian forces targeting West Papuan people and villages with mass arrests and the destruction of houses.

The Guardian

There have been continued attacks on American and allied forces, notably the bombing last week of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 people.

The New York Times

But there have been continued delays in the development of the satellite tracking tags and the contracts with G4S and Serco to use their equipment have been extended.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been continued", ensure that the subject clearly indicates what is being prolonged or maintained. For instance, specify whether it's a project, discussion, or policy.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of passive voice constructions with "have been continued". Active voice often makes the writing more direct and impactful. Instead of "The investigation has been continued by the authorities", consider "The authorities have continued the investigation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been continued" typically functions as part of a verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating that a particular action or state has been prolonged or maintained over a period of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been continued" is a grammatically sound construction used to describe the ongoing nature of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It appears most frequently in news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about what is being continued and avoid overuse of the passive voice. Consider alternative phrases like "has been sustained" or "remained ongoing" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been sustained

Focuses on the act of maintaining or supporting something at a certain level.

has been prolonged

Emphasizes the extension of something beyond its original duration.

have been sustained

Similar to 'has been sustained' but referring to plural subjects or continuous actions.

have been prolonged

Similar to 'has been prolonged' but refers to multiple actions or items being extended.

were perpetuated

Highlights the act of causing something to continue indefinitely.

has remained in effect

Focuses on the continued validity or applicability of something.

has carried on

Implies that an activity or process has proceeded without interruption.

were maintained

Suggests that efforts were made to keep something in its current state.

remained ongoing

Indicates that a process or activity is still in progress.

have remained in effect

Similar to 'has remained in effect' but applicable to plural subjects.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been continued" to describe an action or state that has persisted over time. For example, "The negotiations "have been continued" despite the initial setbacks."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "have been continued"?

Similar phrases include "has been sustained", "has been prolonged", or "remained ongoing", which all convey the idea of something being extended or maintained.

Is "have been continued" formal or informal?

"Have been continued" is generally suitable for neutral and formal contexts, often appearing in news reports, academic papers, and business communications.

What's the difference between ""have been continued"" and "were continued"?

"Have been continued" implies the action is ongoing from a past point to the present, while "were continued" implies the action happened in the past and may or may not still be ongoing.