have been useful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been useful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has provided value or benefit over a period of time up to the present. Example: "The resources provided by the organization have been useful in enhancing our team's productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have been useful to the West.

The Economist

I think they have been useful.

The New York Times

"I have been useful after all".

The Guardian - Music

And some context might have been useful.

The New York Times

A translation would have been useful.

The New York Times - Arts

All of these things have been useful to me.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those are qualities that I think have been useful.

The New York Times

All these exercises could have been useful for WorldCom.

The New York Times

What techniques have been useful for exposing your unexamined assumptions?

Harvard Business Review

He also doubts it could have been useful.

The Guardian

When it would have been useful you didn't have it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add nuance, specify how something "have been useful" by adding modifiers or clarifying clauses. For example, "the tools have been useful in streamlining the workflow".

Common error

Avoid overuse of "have been useful" in passive constructions. Whenever possible, rephrase to highlight the active agent that made something useful, resulting in more engaging and direct writing. Instead of "the data have been useful", try "researchers have found the data useful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been useful" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, describing the quality or state of a subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates that something has provided value or benefit over a period of time leading up to the present moment, modifying the subject with its characteristic of being "useful".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been useful" is a versatile phrase used to express the beneficial nature of something over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academic and Science domains. While generally neutral in tone, writers should ensure clarity by specifying to whom or for what something has been useful, and they should also avoid overusing it in passive constructions. Alternatives such as "have been helpful" or "have been beneficial" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have proven beneficial

Replaces "useful" with "beneficial", suggesting a positive outcome or advantage resulted from something.

have been helpful

Substitutes "useful" with "helpful", implying assistance or aid was provided.

have been valuable

Replaces "useful" with "valuable", highlighting the importance or worth of something.

have been advantageous

Similar to "useful" but specifically emphasizes the favorable or opportunistic nature of something.

have served a purpose

Focuses on the fulfillment of an intended aim or function.

have been instrumental

Emphasizes a critical role in achieving a particular outcome.

have contributed to

Highlights the contribution towards a specific result or goal.

have been of assistance

Formal way of saying "have helped"

have played a role

Indicates involvement or participation in a particular process or event.

have been effective

Focuses on the successful achievement of a desired result.

FAQs

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

Use "have been useful" to indicate that something has provided a benefit or served a purpose over a period of time. For example, "These strategies "have been useful" in improving team collaboration".

What are some alternatives to "have been useful"?

Alternatives include "have been helpful", "have been beneficial", or "have proven valuable", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

"Has been useful" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "This tool has been useful"), while "have been useful" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "These tools have been useful").

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

"Have been useful" implies the usefulness extends to the present, while "were useful" implies the usefulness was in the past and may no longer be relevant. For example, "These methods "have been useful", and we still use them" vs. "These methods were useful, but we've since found better ones."