have been improving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been improving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an ongoing process of enhancement or progress that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "Over the past few months, our sales figures have been improving steadily, indicating a positive trend in customer engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over all, American finances have been improving.

The New York Times

Chivas have been improving in recent weeks.

The Guardian - Sport

Things have been improving under President Moon.

The New Yorker

Furthermore, activists themselves have been improving their means.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, several subscription services have been improving their appeal.

The New York Times - Arts

The Russians have been improving for the past 20 years.

The New York Times - Sports

Sales of its mini-van, the Aerostar, have been improving.

The New York Times

Mr. Mishel says high school graduation rates have been improving, especially among blacks.

The New York Times

I've been on employment support allowance and my medical issues have been improving.

The Guardian

The team have been improving other areas of the site in the meantime.

The Guardian

With workers under similar strains, customer satisfaction measures at United actually have been improving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been improving" to describe a continuous process of betterment that began in the past and is still ongoing. It's particularly useful when you want to emphasize the duration and sustained effort involved in the improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "have been improving" when referring to a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past perfect tense (had improved) or the simple past tense (improved). For example, don't say "The situation have been improving yesterday"; say "The situation improved yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been improving" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that began in the past, continues into the present, and is still in progress. Ludwig supports this analysis by providing numerous examples showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been improving" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating a continuous process of betterment that started in the past and continues into the present. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media and Academia. To describe a completed action in the past use simple past instead. Alternatives such as "have progressed" or "have gotten better" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Be mindful of tense agreement and ensure it aligns with the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have shown improvement

Emphasizes the evidence of progress made.

have been developing

Highlights the gradual evolution and growth.

have been advancing

Suggests a forward movement or upward trajectory.

have progressed

Focuses more on the advancement achieved rather than the continuous process.

have made strides

Indicates significant progress or advancements.

have been evolving

Implies a more natural and organic process of change.

have gotten better

A more informal way to express the same idea.

have been growing

Focuses on the increase in size or scope.

have been flourishing

Suggests a thriving and prosperous state of improvement.

have turned around

Suggests a reversal of a negative trend and a move towards improvement.

FAQs

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

Use "have been improving" to describe something that started improving in the past and is continuing to improve in the present. For example, "My grades "have been improving" since I started studying more regularly".

What are some alternatives to "have been improving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have progressed", "have gotten better", or "have shown improvement".

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

"Has been improving" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The economy has been improving"), while ""have been improving"" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "Our sales figures have been improving").

What's the difference between "have been improving" and "improved"?

"Have been improving" describes a continuous process over time, whereas "improved" describes a completed action in the past. For example, "My health has been improving" indicates an ongoing process, while "My health improved" suggests a completed improvement.