have been held

USAGE SUMMARY

'have been held' is a correct and common English expression.
You can use it to refer to something that has happened regularly in the past and continues to happen in the present. For example, "Regular board meetings have been held on the first Tuesday of every month for the past five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Services have been held.

The New York Times

Private services have been held.

The New York Times

Private family services have been held.

The New York Times

Three live televised debates have been held.

The Economist

Three trials have been held.

The New York Times

Two concerts have been held at Livestrong Sporting Park.

The New York Times

"The referendum should never have been held.

The Guardian

So far, two hearings have been held.

The Guardian - Opinion

She seems to have been held prisoner.

The New York Times - Books

Both have been held since February.

The New York Times

Some have been held for 50 days".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been held", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who has been held. Providing specific details enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity. For instance, "Elections have been held annually" is more informative than simply "Elections have been held".

Common error

A common error is mixing tenses. Avoid switching to past simple (e.g., "were held") without reason within a sentence or paragraph where the present perfect ("have been held") is established. Maintain consistent tense for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been held" functions as a passive construction in the present perfect tense. It indicates that an action (holding) has been completed at some point in the past, with continuing relevance to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been held" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe events that have occurred in the past and are relevant to the present. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a common expression, particularly in formal and neutral contexts like news, encyclopedias, and academic writing. Pay attention to maintaining consistent tense and specifying what exactly "have been held" to avoid ambiguity. As shown by the numerous examples, reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, solidifying its place in standard English usage. Consider using synonyms like "have taken place" or "have been conducted" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have taken place

Replaces "held" with "taken place", focusing on the occurrence of an event.

have occurred

Substitutes "held" with "occurred", emphasizing the event's happening.

have been conducted

Replaces "held" with "conducted", highlighting a managed or organized event.

have been staged

Uses "staged" instead of "held", suggesting a planned or presented event.

have been carried out

Replaces "held" with "carried out", stressing the execution or completion of an action.

have been maintained

Changes the focus to "maintained" indicating something kept or sustained.

have been convened

Substitutes "held" with "convened", emphasizing the gathering or assembly aspect.

have come to pass

Uses a more formal "come to pass" instead of "held", indicating an event's fulfillment.

have transpired

Replaces "held" with "transpired", highlighting the unfolding or occurrence of events.

have been celebrated

Changes the meaning to "celebrated" emphasizing festive observances.

FAQs

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

Use "have been held" to describe events or situations that have occurred and concluded. For example, "Numerous discussions "have been held" regarding the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "have been held"?

Alternatives include "have taken place", "have occurred", or "have been conducted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been held" instead of "have been held"?

"Has been held" is used with singular subjects, while "have been held" is used with plural subjects. For example, "A meeting has been held" (singular) versus "Meetings have been held" (plural).

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

"Have been held" (present perfect) indicates that the event occurred at an unspecified time in the past, with relevance to the present. "Were held" (past simple) indicates a completed action in the past with no direct connection to the present. For example, "Negotiations "have been held" to improve international relations" versus "Negotiations were held last year".