who has been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "who has been" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that has happened or is ongoing. For example: "I'm looking for someone who has been working in this field for at least 10 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Who has been blackmailing us?

The New Yorker

They want someone who has been fighting".

The New York Times

It is Angel who has been forsaken.

The New Yorker

Just who has been coaching Llodra?

The New York Times

Who has been telling the truth?

The New York Times

(Cf. Eli Manning, who has been both).

The New Yorker

Who has been arrested and interviewed?

The Guardian

"Who has been invited?

The Guardian

Who has been playing No8.

The Guardian - Sport

So who has been snubbed?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Yaw Nyarko, who has been at N.Y.U.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "who has been" when inquiring about or describing someone's experiences, roles, or actions over a period of time. It emphasizes duration or continuity.

Common error

Avoid using "who has been" to describe permanent or unchanging qualities. For example, instead of "a person who has been tall", use "a tall person".

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "who has been" is to introduce a relative clause that modifies a noun, typically a person, by providing additional information about their experiences or actions over a period. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "who has been" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase widely used to introduce relative clauses describing someone's experiences or actions over time, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's particularly common in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Remember to avoid using it for static states and consider alternatives like "who was" or "identifying those who have" for variation. With these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "who has been" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who was

Focuses on past identification rather than ongoing or recently completed actions.

which person has

Replaces the pronoun "who" with the more formal "which person", emphasizing the individual.

who is

Shifts the focus to a current state or identity, excluding past actions.

which entity has

Broadens the scope to include organizations or groups, not just individuals.

identifying those who have

Highlights the act of identifying individuals with a particular experience.

which individuals have

Replaces the pronoun with a more formal term to emphasize a more formal tone.

who is responsible

Directs the question to determine accountability for an action.

determining who has

Focuses on the process of finding out who is responsible or involved.

who was formerly

Emphasizes a past role or identity that is no longer current.

who can be credited with

Highlights the person or group that deserves recognition for specific results.

FAQs

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

Use "who has been" to describe someone's experiences or actions over time, such as "a colleague "who has been instrumental" to the project's success".

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

"Who has been" implies a connection to the present or a continuing action, while "who was" refers to a completed action or state in the past. For instance, "someone "who has been living" here for years" versus "someone "who was living" here".

Can I use "who has been" to refer to non-human entities?

While typically used for people, "who has been" can also apply to entities with agency or roles, though it's less common. For example, "a company "who has been investing" in renewable energy".

What are some alternatives to "who has been" to vary my writing?

You can use phrases like "someone with experience in", "an individual involved in", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the relative clause altogether, such as "a long-time resident" instead of "someone "who has been living" here for a long time".