have been working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been working" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a continuing action in the past that has recently stopped or is still in progress. For example, "I have been working on this project for the past month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have been working out well.

The New Yorker

Both have been working with NASA.

Independent

"We have been working on this awhile.

The New York Times - Tech

Whom could they have been working for?

The New Yorker

"We have been working on doing that.

The New York Times

"We have been working on this.

The New York Times

Their strategy may have been working.

The New York Times

Or, they may have been working me".

The New York Times

I have been working out.

The New York Times

The efforts have been working.

The New York Times - Travel

I have been working from these images.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been working" to emphasize the duration and continuity of an action leading up to the present moment. This highlights the process and effort involved, not just the result.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense (e.g., "worked") when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of an activity. "I worked on this project" focuses on the completion, whereas "I "have been working" on this project" highlights the continuous effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been working" functions as the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "work". It indicates an action that started in the past and continues into the present or has recently ceased. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction emphasizes the duration and ongoing nature of the activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

21%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been working" is a versatile and grammatically correct construction used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, with frequent usage in news media, academic writing and science. When writing, remember to use this phrase to emphasize the duration of the activity and to differentiate it from the simple past tense. Alternatives such as "have labored" or "have been engaged in" can add nuance depending on your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have devoted time to

Focuses on the time spent on a particular activity.

have been developing

Suggests a process of gradual growth and improvement.

have been engaged in

Focuses on the involvement in an activity rather than just the work itself.

have invested time in

Implies that time spent will yield a positive outcome. Used when talking about the benefits you expect to gain from that activity.

have been occupied with

Indicates that one's time and attention have been taken up by something.

have labored

Replaces "working" with a more formal and somewhat archaic term, emphasizing the effort involved.

have committed themselves to

Similar to "have dedicated themselves to", suggesting a strong sense of responsibility and undertaking.

have toiled

Similar to "have labored", suggesting arduous and prolonged work.

have dedicated themselves to

Emphasizes commitment and devotion to a task or cause.

have exerted effort on

Highlights the expenditure of energy and resources.

FAQs

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

Use "have been working" to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing or has only recently finished. For example, "I "have been working" on this report all week."

What are some alternatives to "have been working"?

You can use alternatives like "have labored", "have been engaged in", or "have devoted time to" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "have been working" and "have worked"?

"Have been working" emphasizes the continuous nature and duration of the activity, while "have worked" focuses on the completion of the work. For example, "I "have been working" for three hours" highlights the duration, whereas "I have worked on the project" simply states that you completed part of the project.

Is it correct to say "have been working on" or "have been working at"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Have been working on" generally refers to a specific project or task. "Have been working at" often refers to a skill or general area of work. Example: "I "have been working" on my thesis" vs "I "have been working" at improving my writing skills".