what has been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what has been" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to something that has already happened or occurred in the past. Here is an example sentence: "What has been causing the recent increase in crime rates in our city?" In this sentence, "what has been" is used to ask about the reason or cause for the increase in crime rates that has already occurred in the past.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What has been lost?

The New York Times

What has been announced?

Independent

What has been the impact?

The New York Times

That's what has been ruled.

The New York Times

What has been the reaction?

BBC

Q | What has been announced?

Independent

Then what has been accomplished?

The New York Times - Magazine

What has been Kouchner's response?

The New York Times

So what has been achieved?

The Economist

Guess what has been observed?

The New Yorker

So, what has been gained?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what has been", ensure the context clearly indicates that you're asking about something that has already happened or a situation that has developed over time. For example, "What has been the impact of the new policy?"

Common error

Avoid using "what has been" when referring to future events or possibilities. Instead, use phrases like "what will be" or "what is going to be" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. For example, instead of "What has been the plan for next year?" use "What will be the plan for next year?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what has been" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase. It is used to introduce questions seeking information about past events, actions, or states that have some relevance or impact on the present. Ludwig's examples show its application in various contexts, demonstrating its versatility in forming questions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what has been" is a versatile interrogative phrase used to inquire about past events and their present relevance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. To ensure effective communication, remember to use this phrase when referring to completed events or ongoing processes and avoid using it when talking about future events. By considering these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "what has been" in your writing and conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what's happened

Replaces "has been" with the contraction "'s", simplifying the question while retaining the core meaning.

what occurred

Substitutes "has been" with the single verb "occurred", offering a more concise alternative with the same general meaning.

what transpired

Replaces "has been" with "transpired", providing a more formal or literary alternative.

what's taken place

Replaces "has been" with "'s taken place", offering a slightly more descriptive alternative.

what has transpired

Replaces "been" with "transpired", resulting in a more formal and elevated tone.

what has occurred

Substitutes "been" with "occurred", providing a more direct and straightforward phrasing.

what is

Simplifies the phrase to inquire about the present state or nature of something.

what became

Changes the tense to focus on the final outcome or result of something.

what was

Shifts the focus to a past state or condition, rather than an ongoing process.

what's the story

Offers a more informal and conversational alternative to inquire about a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "what has been" in a sentence?

Use "what has been" to inquire about past occurrences or developments. For example: "What has been the response to the new product launch?"

What can I say instead of "what has been"?

You can use alternatives like "what's happened", "what occurred", or "what's taken place" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "what has been" or "what had been"?

"What has been" refers to something that happened in the past and has relevance to the present, while "what had been" refers to something that happened in the past before another past event. Choose the tense that accurately reflects the time frame you're discussing.

What's the difference between "what has been" and "what is"?

"What has been" refers to a past state or ongoing process leading to the present, while "what is" inquires about the current state or nature of something. The key difference lies in the temporal focus: past vs. present.