it has really been

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something has really come to pass or that an event has really happened. For example: "It has really been a long and difficult journey, but we're finally here!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

And in Japan it has really been a big hit.

The New York Times - Arts

He added: "It has really been taken as Hindu pornography.

The New York Times - Books

"It has really been a spectacular week, which is great for this tournament, because it has really been hurt by the weather".

The New York Times - Sports

It has really been Susan's (and subsequently my) interest in wild food that has motivated us.

The New York Times - Travel

In the last 10 years it has really been about consumers getting online.

The Guardian - Business

It has really been a game of spatial Tetris, and we are trying to find ways to maximize the function".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

It had really been draining for him.

The New York Times

But it had really been hoping to win the big prize this time.

The Economist

Would it have really been surprising if Posada had called a news conference Sunday and announced his retirement?

The New York Times - Sports

Though he claimed the first gig he attended was Black Flag, it had really been Sammy Hagar.

The Guardian - Music

The old boy wasn't sure that it had really been him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has really been" to emphasize the significance or impact of an experience or situation. For example, "It has really been a challenging year for the company, but we've emerged stronger."

Common error

While "it has really been" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "it has proven to be" or "it has demonstrably been" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has really been" primarily functions as a declarative statement, used to express a judgment or observation about a situation or experience. Ludwig AI confirms this is a common and correct phrase. It serves to emphasize the degree or extent to which something has been true or impactful.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it has really been" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the significance of a situation or experience. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives like "it has proven to be" for academic writing. When you want to stress the truth or impact of a condition or journey, "it has really been" effectively conveys your conviction. Consider phrases like "it truly has been" or "it's genuinely been" to express similar ideas with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's genuinely been

Replaces 'really' with 'genuinely' to emphasize authenticity.

it truly has been

Uses 'truly' instead of 'really' for a stronger emphasis on truth.

it has certainly been

Employs 'certainly' to indicate a confident affirmation.

it has definitely been

Substitutes 'really' with 'definitely' to highlight the assuredness.

it has actually been

Replaces 'really' with 'actually' to point out a fact or reality.

it's effectively been

Changes 'really' to 'effectively' to emphasize a result or outcome.

it has essentially been

Uses 'essentially' to highlight the core nature of the experience.

it has in reality been

Adds 'in reality' for a more formal emphasis on what's true.

it's practically been

Replaces 'really' with 'practically' to underline a functional reality.

it's been quite a

Simplifies and shortens the phrase while maintaining the sentiment.

FAQs

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

Use "it has really been" to emphasize the impact or significance of something. For example, "It has really been a pleasure working with you." You can replace "pleasure" with any suitable noun depending on the context.

What's a more formal alternative to "it has really been"?

For formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "it has proven to be", "it has demonstrably been", or "it has effectively been" to achieve a more sophisticated tone.

What can I say instead of "it has really been" to show excitement?

To express excitement, try using phrases like "it's genuinely been", "it's been an amazing experience", or "it has certainly been a thrilling ride". Consider "certainly been" for emphasis.

Is there a difference between "it has really been" and "it had really been"?

Yes, "it has really been" refers to something that started in the past and continues to the present or has a current relevance. "It had really been" refers to something that happened in the past before another past event.