The person grading my paper is saying:
"Instead of saying "has been" say was... or look where you change the verbiage not to reflect a double negative."

Is using has been a double negative???? Can you clarify what she is saying? Here is one sentence from my paper:
"The staff has, for the most part, been welcoming and kind."
Is this incorrect or not "academic?"

Question

The person grading my paper is saying:
"Instead of saying "has been" say was... or look where you change the verbiage not to reflect a double negative."

Is using has been a double negative???? Can you clarify what she is saying? Here is one sentence from my paper:
"The staff has, for the most part, been welcoming and kind."
Is this incorrect or not "academic?"

anonymous · Answer

I think saying "has been" is like saying "so far" saying "was" means they were and that's it. Maybe that's what she meant...

anonymous · Answer

So you feel saying has been is a more nebulous comment whereas was is a more concrete statement?  Both seem correct....

anonymous · Answer

You just used a bunch of big words, one of which I have no idea what it means, but I've got the gist! Yes, that's what I feel, and I agree with you, but all I'm saying is maybe that's what she thought?

anonymous · Answer

Ok. thank you

anonymous · Answer

It's not the definitiveness of the statement that those words affect. Rather, has been is a continuous statement, as though you are still wherever and you're keeping a diary to that effect, whereas was is firmly in the past, as though you have left. Both have concrete meaning, it's just the actual timing of your statement which they change.

anonymous · Answer

Both "has" and "been" are past tense words.  Maybe that's where her problem lies?

a_clan · Answer

The use of 'has been' and 'was'  will depend upon whether you are still meeting the staff or you have left meeting them.

anonymous · Answer

Looking at your sentence out of context, i see only one problem with it:  you've split your verb phrase - "has been" ( a verb phrase consisting of a helping verb + a being verb) should be kept together:  

"The staff has been, for the most part, welcoming and kind."

I'd have to see the rest of your paper to see what tense you've wriiten it in to know if "was" is more appropriate.  If your paper is written in past tense, "The staff was welcoming and kind" is correct, as "was" is the past tense being verb.