have historically been

USAGE SUMMARY

'have historically been' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to something that has happened in the past, typically over a long period of time. For example: "Women have historically been oppressed in many cultures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

European imports have historically been fumigated.

The New York Times

Labor and management have historically been adversarial.

The New York Times

Syrians have historically been moderate and cosmopolitan.

The New Yorker

Hindu-Muslim relations have historically been tense.

The New York Times

Even so, attendees have historically been exceptionally well behaved.

The New York Times - Arts

Fares have historically been tightly regulated and heavily subsidised.

The Economist

Governments have historically been lousy stewards of industry.

The Economist

They have historically been a voice of moderation within OPEC.

The Economist

(I have historically been a jerk about the Grateful Dead).

The New Yorker

We are learning what have historically been very important lessons.

The New York Times - Sports

Medical malpractice cases have historically been handled in state courts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have historically been" to provide context and background information by indicating how something has evolved or been perceived over time.

Common error

Avoid using "have historically been" when the historical aspect is not relevant or significant to the point you are making. Be sure that there is a clear and meaningful historical context to justify its use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have historically been" functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the present perfect passive voice. It indicates a state or condition that began in the past and continues to be true or relevant up to the present. Ludwig provides examples to illustrate how this phrase is used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have historically been" is a versatile phrase used to describe conditions or states that have existed over a significant period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, including science, news media, and formal business. When writing, use it to provide historical context and background information. Be aware that overuse without clear historical relevance can weaken your writing. The phrase is well-supported by authoritative sources and is a valuable tool for expressing continuity and evolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have traditionally been

Replaces "historically" with "traditionally", focusing on customs and practices passed down through generations.

have typically been

Substitutes "historically" with "typically", suggesting commonality and regularity over time.

have long been

Uses "long" instead of "historically", emphasizing the duration of time.

were formerly

Indicates a past state or condition, replacing the entire phrase with a more concise expression.

have previously been

Replaces "historically" with "previously", highlighting an earlier occurrence or state.

have in the past been

Emphasizes the past nature of the situation or condition, with a slightly more verbose structure.

have for a long time been

Stresses the prolonged duration using "for a long time" instead of "historically".

have consistently been

Highlights the consistency of something over time, implying a regular pattern.

have been known as

Focuses on the recognition or labeling of something over time.

have been recognized as

Emphasizes the acknowledgement of something's existence or quality throughout history.

FAQs

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

Use "have historically been" to describe practices, events, or characteristics that have existed over a significant period. For example, "Medical malpractice cases "have historically been handled in state courts"".

What are some alternatives to "have historically been"?

Some alternatives include "have traditionally been", "have typically been", or "have long been", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "have historically been"?

While not inherently redundant, ensure the "historical" aspect adds meaningful context. If the time element is obvious or unimportant, a simpler phrase might be more effective.

Which is correct, "have historically been" or "had historically been"?

"Have historically been" is used in the present perfect tense, indicating something that started in the past and continues to be relevant. "Had historically been" is in the past perfect, indicating something that was true in the past before something else happened. The choice depends on the intended timeframe.