have been growing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been growing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate a continuous action that began in the past and is still happening in the present. For example, "My tomatoes have been growing in the garden for the last two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

These have been growing fast.

The Economist

There have been growing pains.

The New York Times

Middle-class incomes have been growing.

The Economist

Its numbers have been growing each week.

The Guardian

There have been growing pains, of course.

The New York Times - Sports

I have been growing in the museum.

The New York Times

"It should have been growing stronger.

The Guardian

There certainly have been growing pains".

The New York Times

The vendors have been growing in number.

The New York Times

There have been growing pains and glitches.

The New York Times

Since 1980, their numbers have been growing almost exponentially.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been growing" to describe a continuous process that started in the past and is still ongoing. For example, "Our customer base "have been growing" steadily over the past year."

Common error

Avoid using "have been growing" when describing a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past perfect continuous tense: "had been growing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been growing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still in progress or has recently stopped. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been growing" is a grammatically sound present perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe ongoing processes or trends that started in the past and continue to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and widely used. The examples in Ludwig show that it is common in news, scientific, and business contexts. When using this phrase, remember to focus on the continuous nature of the action and to avoid using it for completed actions, where the past perfect continuous tense would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been increasing

Focuses more directly on the act of becoming larger or more numerous.

has been developing

Emphasizes the process of maturation or advancement.

has been expanding

Highlights the act of becoming more extensive or widespread.

has seen growth

Indicates that growth has occurred or been observed.

has been escalating

Suggests a rapid or dramatic increase, often in a negative context.

has progressed steadily

Highlights continuous and consistent advancement.

is on the rise

Indicates a current trend of increasing presence or importance.

has matured gradually

Conveys the slow, natural process of growth to full development.

has evolved continuously

Focuses on ongoing evolution or adaptation.

is under development

Emphasizes that something is actively being cultivated or created.

FAQs

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

Use "have been growing" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "Interest rates "have been growing" since the beginning of the year."

What are some alternatives to "have been growing"?

Alternatives include "has been increasing", "has been expanding", or "is on the rise". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "have been growing" and "have grown"?

"Have been growing" describes a continuous process over time, while "have grown" indicates a completed action with a present result. For example, "The company "has been growing" steadily" (ongoing) versus "The company "has grown" significantly" (completed).

Is it correct to say "have been growing up"?

Yes, "have been growing up" is correct and means that someone has been in the process of maturing and developing from childhood to adulthood. For example, "I "have been growing up" in this town since I was a little kid."