have been determining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been determining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or process that started in the past and continues into the present, often in contexts involving analysis or decision-making. Example: "We have been determining the best course of action for the project over the last few weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Over the last 3 decades researchers have been determining the structures of a variety of proteins at an exponential rate.

Science Magazine

While the values of higher education have been determining by the external factors, itself has been increasing the effect power on higher education institutions as an external factor.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

His physical gifts, not his true purpose in life, have been determining his fate.

Huffington Post

"Her cronies seem to have been determining who received government support as athletes, who gets government contracts to cultural projects, who would get the greenlight to represent Korea at some international event".

Vice

Liu Shih-chung, Tainan's deputy secretary general, said that footage of the ruins suggest that low-quality reinforced steel and cement may have been determining factors in the collapse.

Vice

What they don't realize is that they ARE already living by an internal set of rules, theories, and guidelines that have been determining their behavior and thinking patterns for a long time.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Unesco has promised aid, but no amounts have been determined.

The New York Times - Books

Oil prices have been determined by political and social concerns.

The Guardian

The majority of the spots have been determined.

The New York Times

These areas have been determined by drift modelling.

The Guardian

"They have been determined to play it down.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been determining", ensure the context clearly indicates an ongoing process of discovery or decision-making, not a single, completed action. This phrasing implies a duration and continuous effort.

Common error

Avoid using "have been determining" when describing a one-time event or a decision made at a specific point in the past. Use a simple past tense form like "determined" instead to indicate a completed action.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "have been determining" is to act as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been determining" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an ongoing process of investigation or decision-making that began in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable, especially in scientific and news-related contexts. While "have been determining" is a good option, consider alternatives like "have been investigating" or "have been assessing" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been ascertaining

Replaces "determining" with "ascertaining", implying a more careful and conclusive investigation.

have been establishing

Substitutes "determining" with "establishing", focusing on the act of setting something firmly in place.

have been finding out

Replaces "determining" with the phrasal verb "finding out", offering a more informal alternative.

have been investigating

Changes "determining" to "investigating", emphasizing the process of systematic examination.

have been assessing

Replaces "determining" with "assessing", suggesting an evaluation or appraisal is taking place.

have been figuring out

Substitutes "determining" with "figuring out", providing a more colloquial and problem-solving-oriented feel.

have been resolving

Replaces "determining" with "resolving", focusing on solving a problem or making a decision.

have been deciding

Changes "determining" to "deciding", emphasizing the act of making a choice or judgment.

have been clarifying

Substitutes "determining" with "clarifying", focusing on making something clearer and easier to understand.

have been concluding

Replaces "determining" with "concluding", highlighting the process of reaching a final judgment or decision.

FAQs

How is "have been determining" used in a sentence?

The phrase "have been determining" indicates an ongoing process of finding something out or making a decision. For example, "Researchers "have been determining" the effects of the new drug for the last six months".

What are some alternatives to "have been determining"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "have been investigating", "have been assessing", or "have been establishing" as alternatives to "have been determining".

Is it better to use "have been determining" or "have determined"?

"Have been determining" suggests an ongoing process, while "have determined" indicates a completed action. Use "have been determining" when the action is still in progress and "have determined" when the result is final.

What's the difference between "have been determining" and "are determining"?

"Have been determining" implies that the process started in the past and continues to the present, while "are determining" suggests the process is happening right now. The first emphasizes duration, while the second emphasizes immediacy.