have been continuing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been continuing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently stopped. Example: "We have been continuing our research on climate change for the past five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Efforts to broker a ceasefire have been continuing despite the continued violence.

BBC

Negotiations have been continuing ever since.

The Economist

The talks have been continuing since 1997.

The New York Times

The hearings have been continuing for nearly a week.

The New York Times

Superdelegates have been continuing to drift toward Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

The Euromaidan protests have been continuing for almost two months.

The Guardian - Opinion

The 4 men have been continuing their fast & their vigil ever since.

The New Yorker

These talks, which have been continuing since 1996, have failed to produce any results.

The New York Times

The lessons have been continuing regularly every day, with Mrs. Norden appreciative but perfectly amazed.

The New Yorker

Talks have been continuing in confidence between Barclays and Transport for London (TfL).

The Guardian

There have been continuing concerns over possible political interference, corruption and the quality of the jurisprudence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been continuing" to describe actions or processes that began in the past and are still ongoing or have only recently ceased. This emphasizes the duration of the activity. For example, "Negotiations "have been continuing" between the parties."

Common error

Avoid using "have been continuing" to describe actions that have definitively ended and will not resume. Instead, use the past perfect continuous tense ("had been continuing") to indicate that the action occurred before a specific point in the past, or switch to a simple past tense construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been continuing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb tense, indicating an action or state that began in the past and is still ongoing or has recently ceased. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been continuing" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have recently finished. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, but also in scientific and encyclopedic content. When using this phrase, ensure the action aligns with its ongoing nature and is not definitively completed. Consider alternatives like "have been ongoing" or "have been persisting" for slight variations in meaning. Avoid using "have been continuing" to describe actions that have definitively ended, and pay attention to subject-verb agreement by using "has" for singular subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been ongoing

This alternative uses a single adjective instead of a verb, slightly simplifying the original phrase.

have been persisting

Replaces "continuing" with "persisting", emphasizing the enduring nature of the action or state.

have been in progress

This alternative focuses on the state of being in progress rather than the act of continuing.

have been underway

Similar to "in progress" but emphasizes the commencement and current status of the activity.

have remained constant

Shifts the focus to the lack of change, implying continuation in a steady state.

have been sustained

Highlights the maintenance or upholding of an action over a period.

have been maintained

Similar to "sustained", focusing on the upkeep and continuation of something.

have carried on

This option uses a phrasal verb to convey the sense of continuing, suitable for informal contexts.

have proceeded

Emphasizes the forward movement or advancement of something that is already in motion.

have not stopped

This phrase focuses on the absence of cessation, highlighting the uninterrupted nature of the action.

FAQs

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

Use "have been continuing" to describe an action that started in the past and is still in progress. For example, "The research "have been continuing" for several years."

What are some alternatives to "have been continuing"?

Alternatives include "have been ongoing", "have been persisting", or "have been in progress", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been continuing"?

Yes, but only when referring to a singular subject. For example, "The project "has been continuing" despite the challenges". Use "have" with plural subjects.

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

"Have been continuing" implies an action that began in the past and is still ongoing or recently stopped, while "continued" indicates a past action that may or may not still be happening. "The talks "continued" until late last night" vs "The talks "have been continuing" for weeks".