it has been

USAGE SUMMARY

'it has been' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened in the past. For example, "It has been two weeks since I last saw you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has been difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

It has been eventful.

The New Yorker

It has been experience".

The New York Times - Books

It has been infectious".

The New York Times

It has been.

The New York Times

And it has been.

The New York Times

It has been replaced.

The New York Times

It has been exponential.

The New Yorker

It has been abusive.

Independent

"It has been bombed".

The New York Times

It has been revoked.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been" to connect a past event or state to the present. For example, "It has been a long time since we last met" indicates that the time elapsed is relevant now.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been" when referring to a single, completed action in the past. Use the simple past tense instead. For example, instead of "It has been raining yesterday", say "It rained yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been" primarily functions as part of the present perfect construction. This construction is used to indicate actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or actions that have relevance to the present moment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been" is a versatile and grammatically correct construct used to bridge past events or states with their present-day relevance. As verified by Ludwig AI, it finds frequent application across diverse contexts, notably in news, scientific discourse, and formal communications. While primarily functioning within the present perfect tense to indicate ongoing actions or conditions, it's essential to avoid misusing it for single, completed past events. Alternatives like "it was" offer variations in emphasis, either shifting focus to the completed action, while the contracted form "it's been" makes the phrase more casual.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's been

A contraction of "it has been", offering a more casual tone.

it has remained

Highlights the continuity or persistence of a state from the past to the present.

it was

Shifts the focus to a completed action or state in the past, without necessarily implying continuation to the present.

it has proven to be

Focuses on the demonstrated quality or characteristic of something over time.

it has come to pass

Emphasizes the fulfillment or realization of something over time.

it has transpired

Highlights the unfolding or revelation of events over a period.

it had been

Uses the past perfect tense, indicating a state that existed before another point in the past.

it has developed into

Focuses on the evolution or transformation of something over time.

there has been

Introduces the existence of something over a period, changing the subject.

it is

Changes the tense to present, focusing on the current state rather than the duration from the past.

FAQs

How do I use "it has been" in a sentence?

Use "it has been" to describe something that started in the past and continues to the present, or whose effects are still relevant. For instance, "it has been raining all day" or "it has been tough, but we're getting through it".

What are some alternatives to "it has been"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "it was", "it is now", or "it had been". The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize completion, current state, or a past-before-past relationship.

Is "it has been" formal or informal?

"It has been" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than on the phrase itself. The contracted form, "it's been", is generally considered more informal.

What's the difference between "it has been" and "it was"?

"It has been" connects a past event or state to the present, implying ongoing relevance or duration. "It was" refers to a completed event in the past, without necessarily implying a connection to the present. For example, "It has been a long day" suggests the effects are still felt, while "it was a long day" simply states a past fact.