have been steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous or gradual process that has been occurring over a period of time. Example: "The company's profits have been steadily increasing over the last three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The fees have been steadily increasing.

The New York Times

Astronauts have been steadily leaving the agency.

The New York Times - Science

Government-bond prices have been steadily rising.

The Economist

But their ranks have been steadily thinning.

The New York Times

TELEVISION antiheroes have been steadily gaining popularity.

The New York Times - Arts

The plantation forests have been steadily increasing in both sites.

Landscape and Urban Planning

The Reimanns have been steadily accumulating premium and luxury brands.

The New York Times

His approval ratings have been steadily dropping in recent months.

The New York Times

Gaming revenues have been steadily falling ever since.

The Economist

Fatalities among miners have been steadily dropping for years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Tensions between young and old, male and female, and people in general...have been steadily increasing".

Conflict and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "gradually" or "consistently" to add variety to your writing, but maintain the intended meaning of a continuous process.

Common error

Avoid using "have been steadily" to describe changes that occur instantly or very quickly. This phrase implies a gradual process, so it's not suitable for describing immediate events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been steadily" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase used to indicate that an action or process has been occurring continuously and gradually over a period of time. Ludwig AI shows various examples from credible sources confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been steadily" is a grammatically sound and very common construction used to describe a gradual and consistent change over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While it is generally neutral in register, users should ensure that the context accurately reflects a gradual and ongoing process, avoiding its use for sudden or abrupt shifts. Consider synonyms such as "gradually" or "consistently" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been consistently

This alternative emphasizes a uniform rate of change, unlike the original phrase which implies gradual progression.

have been gradually

This alternative highlights the slowness of the change, providing a less intense form of the original phrase.

have been progressively

This alternative implies that the changes are happening in distinct stages.

have been continuously

This alternative underscores the uninterrupted nature of the change, differing slightly in focus from the original.

have been constantly

This alternative implies a higher frequency of occurrence, differing slightly from the steady pace implied by the original phrase.

have been increasingly

This alternative puts more emphasis on the increasing nature of the described change.

have been relentlessly

This alternative stresses the determination or intensity with which something has been changing.

have been systematically

This alternative specifies that the change is occurring in an ordered, methodical fashion.

have been uninterruptedly

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the lack of interruptions to the change, thus being different to the rate of change implied by the original.

have been steadfastly

This alternative emphasizes the resoluteness or unwavering nature of the process, differing in nuance from the original phrase.

FAQs

How do I use "have been steadily" in a sentence?

Use "have been steadily" to describe a gradual and consistent change or progression over a period of time. For example, "The company's profits "have been steadily" increasing over the last few years".

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

You can use alternatives like "have been gradually", "have been consistently", or "have been progressively" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "have been steadily increasing" or "have been steadily decreased"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have opposite meanings. "Have been steadily increasing" indicates a gradual growth, while "have been steadily decreased" indicates a gradual decline.

What's the difference between "have been steadily" and "have steadily been"?

The phrase "have steadily been" is less common and can sound awkward. "Have been steadily" is the more standard and natural-sounding construction.