it has been some time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It has been some time" is grammatically correct and is often used in written English.
It is used to indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since something happened. For example: "It has been some time since I last saw you at the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

It has been some time since the Vatican re-stated its position on the city so forcefully, and Thursday's statement was bound to be received negatively by Israel, a diplomat with direct knowledge of their relations said.

Huffington Post

But it has been some time since the district's architecture has risen to their iconic level.

The New York Times

It has been some time since I physically jumped at a scary movie.

The Guardian - Film

But it has been some time since he has, as they say, done any therapeutic work.

The New Yorker

It has been some time since we have needed to raise a militia, but senseless violence is all too common.

The New York Times

It has been some time since all the big musicals started on Broadway and then filtered out to the hinterland.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

For many of us, it had been some time since we had even thought of it, much less revisited it.

Independent

People who watch these Panthers on a regular basis were saying that it had been some time since Bure was so physical in a game.

The New York Times - Sports

It had been some time since I had gone to a bookstore funeral, but in the nineteen-nineties I was a morbidly regular attendee at going-out-of-business sales for numerous storied Manhattan bookshops.

The New Yorker

But it had been some time since designers had assembled to discuss anything besides their awards and Fashion Week plans, so Oscar de la Renta, who conceived the Balenciaga exhibition, suggested a group tour with Mr. Bowles.

The New York Times

The new production has been highly praised by the Italian press, the Corriere della Sera noting that it had been "some time since the premiere of a new Verdi production had gone so smoothly" at Milan's fabled opera house.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been some time" to introduce a contrast or a realization that circumstances have changed since the last occurrence of an event. For example: "It has been some time since we last saw each other; let's catch up on what's new."

Common error

Avoid using "it has been some time" when referring to the immediate past. This phrase is best suited for periods of considerable length, not recent events. For example, instead of saying "It has been some time since I ate lunch" (if you just finished), consider "I just finished lunch."

Linguistic Context

It functions as an introductory phrase, setting the stage for a statement about the elapsed time since a particular event or situation. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct. Examples show its use in various contexts to emphasize the duration since something last occurred.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has been some time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a noticeable period has passed. As shown by Ludwig, it's commonly found in news and media, used to set the context and express the duration since a particular event. While it can be replaced by phrases like "it's been a long time" or "a while has passed", it's essential to use the phrase appropriately to refer to periods of considerable length, rather than recent events. By avoiding common mistakes and utilizing best practices, writers can effectively use this phrase to convey a sense of duration and change over time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, further solidifying its validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been a while since

Adds 'since' to explicitly connect to an event.

it's been a long time

More common and slightly less formal.

it's been quite a while

Adds emphasis with "quite".

a while has passed

Changes the sentence structure and uses "a while" instead of "some time".

it has been a long duration

Uses duration for a slightly more formal tone.

it's been a considerable period

More formal and emphasizes the length of time.

much time has elapsed

More formal and uses "elapsed" instead of "passed".

a significant duration has gone by

Emphasizes the significance of the time that has passed.

it feels like ages

Informal and conveys a subjective sense of a long time.

it's been an eternity

Hyperbolic and informal, emphasizing a very long time.

FAQs

How can I use "it has been some time" in a sentence?

You can use "it has been some time" to indicate that a noticeable period has passed since an event. For example: "It has been some time since I last visited my hometown, and I'm eager to see how it's changed".

What are some alternatives to saying "it has been some time"?

Alternatives include "it's been a long time", "a while has passed", or "it's been quite a while", depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it has been sometime" instead of "it has been some time"?

No, "it has been sometime" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "it has been some time", where "some" modifies "time".

What's the difference between "it has been some time" and "it had been some time"?

"It has been some time" refers to a period that extends up to the present moment, while "it had been some time" refers to a period that ended in the past, often before another past event. For example: "It has been some time since I saw him (and I still haven't)" versus "It had been some time since I saw him before he moved away".