have been successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been successful" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express an achievement, especially over a period of time. For example: "Through hard work and dedication, they have been successful in expanding their business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, some have been successful.

The Economist

Would it have been successful?

The New York Times - Books

These makeovers have been successful.

The New York Times

And we have been successful.

The Guardian

Some have been successful.

The New York Times

Many have been successful.

The Guardian - Money

The effort appears to have been successful.

The New York Times

Park's economic policies have been successful.

The New Yorker

In one sense, they have been successful.

The Economist

The skirmish may have been successful.

The New Yorker

But few big mergers have been successful.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been successful", consider including specific details or examples to support the claim. This provides credibility and context to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "have been successful" when describing an ongoing process that may or may not conclude successfully. Instead, use future tense or conditional phrases like "are expected to be successful" or "have the potential to be successful."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been successful" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, describing the state or condition of a subject as having achieved a desired outcome. Ludwig AI data indicates its common usage in describing accomplished goals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been successful" is a versatile and commonly used way to express that something has achieved a positive outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely accepted in English writing. It's important to ensure correct tense and subject-verb agreement when using this phrase. Common alternative include "have achieved success" and "have proven effective". While predominantly found in News & Media, its usage extends to various fields, including Science and formal business settings. Remember to support the claim with specific details or examples to add more credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have achieved success

This alternative replaces "been successful" with "achieved success", focusing on the accomplishment of success.

have proven effective

This alternative emphasizes the effectiveness of an action or strategy, implying success through positive results.

have yielded positive results

This alternative highlights the positive outcomes resulting from an effort, suggesting a successful endeavor.

have accomplished the goal

This alternative focuses on achieving a specific goal, indicating success in reaching a defined objective.

have thrived

This alternative suggests a flourishing or prosperous state, implying a high degree of success and growth.

have flourished

Similar to "have thrived", this alternative emphasizes growth and prosperity as a sign of success.

have attained the objective

This alternative focuses on the attainment of a specific objective, indicating success in achieving a defined target.

have reached fruition

This alternative implies that efforts have come to a successful conclusion or realization.

have paid off

This alternative suggests that an investment of time or effort has resulted in a positive and successful outcome.

have emerged victorious

This alternative implies overcoming challenges and achieving success through a winning effort.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been successful" to describe past achievements or ongoing situations that show positive results. For example, "The company's new strategies "have been successful" in boosting sales."

What are some alternatives to saying "have been successful"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have achieved success", "have proven effective", or "have yielded positive results".

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

The choice between "has" and "have" depends on the subject. Use "has been successful" with singular subjects (e.g., "The project has been successful"), and "have been successful" with plural subjects (e.g., "The projects "have been successful"").

What is the difference between "have been successful" and "were successful"?

"Have been successful" indicates a continuing relevance or impact up to the present, while "were successful" refers to a past success with no direct implication of ongoing effect. For instance, "The initiatives "have been successful"" implies that the initiatives continue to be effective, whereas "The initiatives were successful" simply describes a past outcome.