have been moving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been moving" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or state that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "We have been moving our office to a new location for the past month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have been moving backward".

The Guardian

Things have been moving fast for Lin.

The New York Times - Sports

But other perspectives have been moving in.

The New York Times - Arts

They have been moving around a lot.

The New York Times

Lawmakers have been moving on wage transparency.

Harvard Business Review

Their tax dollars have been moving around, too.

The New York Times

In the meantime, large investors have been moving in.

The New York Times

But clinical trials have been moving overseas for years.

The Economist

And the filmmaker shouldn't have been moving in".

The New York Times

I might as well have been moving to Mars.

The New York Times

But recent events have been moving against them.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been moving" to describe a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing. For example, "They have been moving closer to an agreement ever since."

Common error

Avoid using "have been moving" when the action is completed. Instead, use the past perfect continuous tense to emphasize that the action was in progress for a certain period before it finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been moving" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that started in the past and is still in progress or has recently ceased. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been moving" is a grammatically sound and highly versatile present perfect continuous verb phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's frequently employed in news and media, academia, and formal business contexts to depict ongoing processes of change, progress, or relocation. While generally neutral in register, it adapts effectively across various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure the action began in the past and remains relevant to the present. Consider alternatives like "have been progressing" or "have been shifting" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been progressing

Focuses on the advancement or development aspect, rather than physical movement.

have been shifting

Emphasizes a change in position, direction, or focus.

have been transitioning

Highlights a change from one state or condition to another.

have been advancing

Suggests forward movement, often in a metaphorical sense, like advancing in a career.

have been developing

Emphasizes growth and evolution over time.

have been relocating

Specifically refers to a change in physical location.

have been transferring

Implies moving something or someone from one place to another.

have been migrating

Often used to describe the movement of people or animals from one region to another.

have been evolving

Focuses on gradual change and adaptation over time.

have been proceeding

Suggests moving forward in a structured or planned manner.

FAQs

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

Use "have been moving" to describe a continuous action or process that started in the past and is still ongoing. For instance, "The negotiations "have been moving" slowly due to disagreements".

What are some alternatives to "have been moving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have been progressing", "have been shifting", or "have been transitioning".

Is it correct to say "have been moved" instead of "have been moving"?

While "have been moving" indicates an ongoing action, "have been moved" implies that something has been relocated by an external force. The correct choice depends on whether the subject is actively moving or being acted upon.

What is the difference between "have been moving" and "moved"?

"Have been moving" suggests a continuous action over a period, whereas "moved" indicates a completed action at a specific point in the past. For example, "They "have been moving" towards a solution" versus "They moved to a new city last year".