have been missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have been missing' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the Present Perfect Continuous tense, to talk about an activity that began in the past and has been continuing until now. Example: I have been missing my family ever since I moved abroad.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

And those details have been missing.

The New York Times

That is something we have been missing".

The New York Times - Sports

In several scenes, Winger shows what we have been missing.

The Guardian - Film

Fans assumed that they must have been missing something.

The New Yorker

A handful have been missing for far longer.

The New York Times

And they have been missing out on sales.

The New York Times - Tech

I have G.E.D. classes here, and two of the students have been missing.

The New York Times

Many of them were not even known to have been missing, she said.

The New York Times

About 600 of the firm's 1,000 employees have been missing since then.

The New York Times

The Yankees have been missing several injured stars almost all season.

The Guardian - Sport

(The principal's sister and brother have been missing since the tsunami, and her house is destroyed).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a quality or feature that is consistently absent in a particular context, use "have been missing" to highlight the ongoing lack. For example, "The team has been missing a strong defensive player all season."

Common error

Avoid using "have been missing" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. "Have been missing" implies a continuing state, whereas the past tense indicates a completed action. For instance, use "The keys were missing" instead of "The keys have been missing" if you are referring to a past, resolved situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been missing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. As stated by Ludwig AI, it describes an action or state that started in the past and continues into the present. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing consistently lacking qualities or individuals who are absent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

15%

Science & Research

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been missing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, denoting a state of absence or deficiency that began in the past and continues into the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it effectively communicates a sense of something lacking, whether it's a person, detail, or quality. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid incorrect tense usage by ensuring the continuing nature of the absence. Alternatives such as "have been lacking" and "have not had" offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings. Ultimately, "have been missing" is a common and useful expression for describing ongoing absences, provided it's used with grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been lacking

Indicates a deficiency or absence of something required or desired. It's more focused on a need not being met.

have been without

Emphasizes the absence of something, often implying a period of deprivation.

have been deprived of

Highlights the act of being denied something, suggesting a more forceful removal or withholding.

have been short of

Focuses on a quantity that is insufficient, particularly in a tangible sense.

have been devoid of

Stresses a complete absence of something, emphasizing emptiness or vacancy.

have been bereft of

Suggests a sense of loss, often in an emotional or spiritual context, indicating a painful absence.

have failed to include

Indicates an oversight or omission, where something was not incorporated or considered.

have not had

A simple and direct way of expressing the absence of something, typically in a possessive sense.

have been absent

Highlights the state of not being present or available, either physically or figuratively.

have been losing

Focuses on the active process of something being taken away or disappearing, implying a gradual decline.

FAQs

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

Use "have been missing" to indicate that something or someone has been absent for a period of time and is still absent, or to describe something that has been consistently lacking. For example, "I "have been missing" you since you moved away" or "The team "have been missing" key players due to injuries".

What are some alternatives to "have been missing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "have been lacking", "have been without", or "have not had" to convey a similar meaning. Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the absence.

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

Yes, but the correct form depends on the subject. Use "has been missing" with singular subjects (e.g., "He "has been missing"") and "have been missing" with plural subjects (e.g., "They "have been missing"").

What is the difference between "have been missing" and "went missing"?

"Have been missing" indicates a state that has continued over time, while "went missing" describes the event of disappearing. For instance, "The child went missing yesterday" (an event), but "The child "has been missing" since yesterday" (a continuing state).