have been decreasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been decreasing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a trend or change over a period of time, indicating that something has been reducing in quantity or intensity. Example: "Over the past few years, the number of visitors to the museum have been decreasing steadily."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Crude exports, too, have been decreasing.

The Economist

Their numbers have been decreasing.

The New York Times

"The grants have been decreasing year after year".

The New York Times

These are the people whose wages have been decreasing.

The Guardian

Many money markets have been decreasing their exposure to Europe.

The New York Times

Will it help increase passenger numbers that, outside London, have been decreasing for years?

The Guardian

Only a small percentage of subway stations have restrooms, and their numbers have been decreasing.

The New York Times

But although student numbers keep increasing the possibilities of employment have been decreasing.

The Guardian

Police killings have been decreasing in frequency since Indecom began its work in 2010.

The Guardian

Travel has been improving since this spring because Israeli forces have been decreasing the number of checkpoints in the area.

The New York Times

However, that means budgets for technology have been decreasing, according to Besa reports for the last few years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been decreasing" to describe ongoing trends where a quantity or intensity is reducing over time. For example, "Sales have been decreasing over the last quarter".

Common error

Avoid using "have been decreasing" when referring to a single, completed event. Instead, use "decreased". For instance, say "The price decreased yesterday", not "The price have been decreasing yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been decreasing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a continuous, ongoing action of reduction. It's used to describe trends or processes that show a decline over a period. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

47%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been decreasing" is a grammatically correct and widely used verb phrase to describe an ongoing reduction or decline. Ludwig AI confirms its adherence to standard grammar rules. It's frequently found in scientific and news contexts, serving to inform or report on negative trends. For alternatives, consider "have been declining" or "are in decline", but remember to use the correct tense based on whether the action is ongoing or completed. Avoiding this and other typical mistakes will lead to a better usage of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been declining

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing a gradual reduction or deterioration.

have been diminishing

This option suggests a gradual decrease, often implying a reduction in importance or effectiveness.

have been dwindling

This alternative highlights a progressive and noticeable reduction, often towards a very small amount.

have been lessening

This phrase suggests a decrease in intensity or degree.

have been receding

This option is suitable when referring to something moving back or away, such as water levels or influence.

are on the decline

This rephrasing provides a more structural alternative to the progressive tense.

are decreasing

This option removes "have been" for a shorter expression with a slightly less emphasis on the continuous trend.

have seen a reduction

This alternative uses a noun-based construction, focusing on the result of the decrease.

have experienced a fall

This alternative emphasizes the event of a decrease, portraying it as an occurrence.

are in decline

This alternative presents the subject as being in a state of deterioration.

FAQs

How do I use "have been decreasing" in a sentence?

Use "have been decreasing" to describe a continuous decline over a period. For example, "The number of students applying to humanities programs "have been decreasing" in recent years".

What's the difference between "have been decreasing" and "have decreased"?

"Have been decreasing" indicates an ongoing process, while "have decreased" suggests a completed action. For example, "Profits have been decreasing steadily" versus "Profits have decreased significantly this year".

What can I say instead of "have been decreasing"?

You can use alternatives like "have been declining", "have been diminishing", or "are in decline" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is decreasing" instead of "have been decreasing"?

While "is decreasing" can be grammatically correct, it usually refers to a present, immediate decline. "Have been decreasing" is better for trends over a longer period. For example, "The water level is decreasing rapidly" versus "The number of bird species "have been decreasing" over the last decade".