have been starting

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been starting" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is the present perfect progressive tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing in the present. Example: I have been starting my day with a cup of coffee for the past month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Other guys have been starting to.

The New York Times - Sports

I shouldn't have been starting races".

The New York Times - Sports

She should have been starting junior year.

The New Yorker

They'd have been starting from a different place.

The Guardian - Books

Other governments have been starting their own initiatives.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, Kenya's macro policies have been starting to look a little wobbly.

The Economist

In a positive shift, women have been starting more firms in the past decade.

The Economist

What kind of life would I have been starting on that foot?

The New York Times

Over the past couple of years, retailers have been starting their holiday sales earlier and earlier.

The New Yorker

"They may have been starting at a more challenged state of health," he said.

The New York Times

We have been starting our tomatoes in a sunny window with O.K. but not great results.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been starting" to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action that began in the past. For example, "They "have been starting" to implement new policies gradually."

Common error

Avoid using "have been starting" when referring to a completed action in the past. Instead, use the past perfect tense, such as "had started."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been starting" primarily functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the present perfect progressive tense. It signifies an action that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing ongoing processes across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been starting" is a versatile verb phrase that signals an ongoing action that began in the past, as validated by Ludwig's AI. Its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources, from news media to academic publications, make it a reliable choice for expressing continuous processes. While alternatives like "have been commencing" exist, the key is to maintain the emphasis on the ongoing nature of the action. Remember to avoid using it for completed past actions. Ludwig's examples further illustrate its application in describing evolving situations and trends.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been initiating

Focuses more on the act of beginning or setting something in motion.

have begun to start

Emphasizes the beginning of the starting process, adding redundancy for emphasis.

have been commencing

A more formal way of saying "have been starting", suitable for official contexts.

have been embarking on

Highlights the initiation of a journey or endeavor.

have been getting underway

Suggests the process of something beginning to move or progress.

have been activating

Implies initiating a process or system into operation.

have been triggering

Focuses on actions that cause something else to start.

have been inaugurating

Signifies the formal or ceremonial commencement of something.

have been instigating

Highlights initiating something, often implying influence or action.

have been paving the way for

Indicates preparatory actions that lead to a beginning or launch.

FAQs

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

Use "have been starting" to describe an action that began in the past and is continuing into the present. For example, "We "have been starting" our preparations for the event."

What are some alternatives to "have been starting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have been initiating", "have been beginning", or "have commenced".

Is it correct to say "have been start" instead of "have been starting"?

No, "have been start" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "have been starting", which is the present perfect progressive tense.

What's the difference between "have been starting" and "have started"?

"Have been starting" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, whereas "have started" simply indicates that the action has begun. For example, "They "have been starting" the project" suggests the project is ongoing, while "They "have started" the project" simply means it has begun.