is being held

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "is being held" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is the present progressive/passive form of the verb "to hold." You can use "is being held" to indicate that something or someone is currently being held by someone else. Example: The suspect is being held in custody by the police for further questioning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is being held by Islamic State (IS) militants.

BBC

"Nobody is being held accountable".

The New York Times

Dominguez is being held on no bond.

The New York Times

BUENOS AIRES — Liberty is being held hostage.

The New York Times

Mr Durst is being held without bail.

Independent

He is being held without bail.

The New York Times

She is being held without bail.

The New York Times

Mr. Wachtel is being held without bail.

The New York Times

"LWCF is being held hostage.

The Washington Post

A postmortem is being held".

The Guardian

Abu Anas is being held aboard the U.S.S.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is being held", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the holding. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice with "is being held". While grammatically correct, active voice often provides a clearer and more direct sentence structure. For example, instead of "The meeting is being held by the committee", consider "The committee is holding the meeting".

Linguistic Context

Is being held functions as a verb phrase, specifically the present progressive passive voice. It indicates an ongoing action of someone or something being detained, possessed, or scheduled. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from legal custody to event scheduling.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is being held" is a versatile verb phrase, functioning as the present progressive passive voice. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, most notably in News & Media. Its purpose is to neutrally inform about an ongoing state of detainment, possession, or scheduled events. While "is being held" is generally neutral in register, it's important to consider the surrounding context for clarity and precision. By avoiding overuse of the passive voice and ensuring clear attribution, writers can effectively use this phrase. Alternative phrases like "is in custody" or "is scheduled" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is in custody

Focuses specifically on the legal aspect of being detained.

is detained

Emphasizes the act of detaining someone, often by authorities.

is in detention

Highlights the state of being detained.

is under arrest

Indicates that someone has been formally arrested.

is imprisoned

Implies a longer-term confinement in a prison.

is confined

General term for being restricted to a certain area.

is kept

A more general term for maintaining possession or control.

is scheduled

Used when referring to events or meetings that are planned.

is taking place

Describes an event that is happening or occurring.

is the responsibility of

Indicates who is accountable or in charge.

FAQs

How can I use "is being held" in a sentence?

You can use "is being held" to indicate that someone or something is currently being detained or possessed. For instance, "The suspect is being held for questioning" or "The vote "is being held" this afternoon".

What can I say instead of "is being held"?

Alternatives include "is in custody", "is detained", or "is scheduled", depending on the context. Each alternative shifts the emphasis slightly.

Which is correct, "is being held" or "is been held"?

"Is being held" is the correct present progressive/passive form. "Is been held" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "is being held" and "was being held"?

"Is being held" indicates a current state of detainment or possession, while "was being held" indicates that the detainment or possession occurred in the past.