have been making

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been making" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about an action that began in the past and is continuing in the present. For example, "We have been making steady progress on the project for the last few months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Palestinians have been making ominous wrong moves.

The New York Times

They have been making jewellery since 1999.

The Guardian

Ghosts sightings have been making headlines recently.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cooks have been making local dishes.

The New York Times

Republicans have been making similar efforts.

The New York Times

"We have been making phone calls, too".

The New York Times - Sports

I have been making it ever since.

The New York Times - Food

Other publishers have been making adjustments, too.

The New York Times

We have been making up lost ground.

Harvard Business Review

They have been making plans to move.

The New York Times

People have been making new year resolutions for millennia.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to emphasize the result of the activity rather than the process, consider using "have made" instead of "have been making".

Common error

Avoid using "have been making" when referring to a completed action in the past with no connection to the present. Use the past simple tense instead; for example, instead of "They have been making the cake yesterday", say "They made the cake yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been making" functions as a present perfect continuous verb construction. It indicates an action that began in the past, continues into the present, and may continue into the future. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

13%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been making" is a versatile verb construction used to describe ongoing actions that started in the past and continue into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English. Its grammatical function is that of a present perfect continuous tense, and it is frequently employed in various contexts, including news, academic writing, and formal business communications. While it's important to differentiate its use from the simple past or present perfect tenses to accurately convey the intended meaning, this guide provides valuable insights, examples, and tips to use the phrase effectively. Several alternatives exist, such as "have been creating" or "have been producing", to add nuance and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been creating

This alternative focuses on the act of bringing something new into existence over a period of time.

have been producing

This suggests a more formal or industrial sense of generating or yielding something repeatedly.

have been developing

This implies gradual growth or advancement over time.

have been constructing

This alternative highlights the building or assembling of something step by step.

have been performing

This suggests a repeated action or execution of a task or activity.

have been conducting

Implies carrying out or managing a process or activity.

have been undertaking

This suggests engaging in a project or task with commitment.

have been fashioning

This alternative implies shaping or molding something, often with skill or artistry.

have been forging

Implies creating something strong or durable through effort.

have been building

This suggests accumulating or establishing something gradually.

FAQs

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

Use "have been making" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "We have been making improvements to our system recently."

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

You can use alternatives like "have been creating", "have been producing", or "have been developing" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "have been making" and "have made"?

"Have been making" emphasizes the ongoing process, while "have made" emphasizes the completion of the action. For example, "I have been making dinner all afternoon" focuses on the activity, whereas "I have made dinner" focuses on the completed meal.

When should I not use "have been making"?

Avoid using "have been making" when referring to a specific, completed action in the past with no relevance to the present. In such cases, use the simple past tense instead. For example, use "I made a cake" instead of "I have been making a cake" when describing a completed action.