ongoing for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ongoing for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that has been continuing for a certain duration of time. Example: "The project has been ongoing for several months now, and we are making significant progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Clashes ongoing for six hours now.

The New York Times

And negotiations are ongoing for an I.M.F.

The New Yorker

Also the ongoing – for five series!

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Settlement talks have been ongoing for much of the year.

The Guardian - Business

The crisis had been ongoing for more than six months.

The New Yorker

Settler terrorism has been ongoing for decades with impunity.

The Guardian

It is intense, brutal and has been ongoing for six years.

The Guardian

The struggle to lessen the pay gap between men and women has been ongoing for decades.

The Guardian - Opinion

Obviously our dealings with Cardiff have been ongoing for a while now".

The Guardian - Sport

It is ongoing now and will continue to be ongoing for hours, possibly days".

The New York Times

"This will be ongoing, for three years," Ray Salter, the Tourism Ministry's general manager, said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ongoing for" to clearly indicate the duration of a continuous activity or process. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing clarity about the time frame involved.

Common error

Be specific with the time reference following "ongoing for". Avoid vague terms like "some time" without providing context, as this can make your statement less informative. Instead, use concrete durations such as "days", "months", or "years" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ongoing for" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating the duration of an activity or state. As Ludwig AI explains, this usage is grammatically sound and prevalent across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ongoing for" is a versatile and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate the duration of an event or process. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely accepted and frequently used in various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While alternatives like "continuing for" and "lasting for" exist, "ongoing for" provides a clear and direct way to express the length of time something has been happening. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continuing for

Replaces "ongoing" with its direct synonym "continuing", maintaining the same grammatical structure.

lasting for

Substitutes "ongoing" with "lasting", emphasizing the duration of the activity or state.

in effect for

Emphasizes the active or operative state during the given duration.

in progress for

Focuses on the activity's current state of being worked on over the specified time.

has continued for

Changes the structure to a verb phrase, emphasizing the continuity from past to present.

has been in effect for

Similar to "in effect for", but expressed as a perfect tense.

has transpired for

A more formal option, indicating that events have unfolded over the given period.

has unfolded for

Replaces "ongoing" with "unfolded", adding a sense of gradual revelation.

has played out for

Uses the metaphor of a performance or event to describe the continuation.

is underway for

Similar to "in progress for" but with a slight shift in emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "ongoing for" in a sentence?

The phrase "ongoing for" describes something that has been continuing for a specific duration. For instance, "The discussions have been "ongoing for" several weeks" indicates the duration of the discussions.

What are some alternatives to using "ongoing for"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "continuing for", "lasting for", or "in progress for". These alternatives can provide slight variations in emphasis while maintaining a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "ongoing for" and "continuing for"?

While both phrases are very similar, "ongoing for" often implies a process or activity that is actively happening, while "continuing for" might simply describe the duration of something without necessarily emphasizing its active state. Both phrases are generally interchangeable, though.

Can I use "ongoing for" in formal writing?

Yes, "ongoing for" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. It is a clear and direct way to describe the duration of a continuous process or activity. Its widespread use in news, scientific, and business contexts confirms its acceptability in formal settings.