Which of the following does the phrase It is being published mean?
1) It is now available in bookstores.
2) It will soon be published.
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1 Answer
If it's now available in bookstores, you want to say:
It is published.
Your sentence is more appropriate when the book has begun the process of being published, but it isn't available in bookstores yet.
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If I may ask, is 'It is being published' an informal way to say 'It is in the process of being published'?– user2793Commented Mar 3, 2014 at 1:14
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It is not really informal, but yes, it is the same as "It is in the process of being published". It is like the -ing in "I am dancing" --> I am currently in the process of dancing.– nxxCommented Mar 3, 2014 at 12:52
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Why being published does not mean it's available in bookstores? Pope John Paul II's notes (that) are being published as a book. It certainly means that the book is available. Am I missing something?– Maulik VCommented Mar 3, 2014 at 13:04
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1@MaulikV Yes, you've misunderstood.– user230Commented Mar 3, 2014 at 13:37
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@MaulikV "being" refers to the process. "being published" means that the book is getting prepared, so it is not finished yet. Something that "is published" is finished, but even that doesn't necessarily mean that the book is in bookstores yet - it is now in book form and ready to be distributed to bookstores. So "published" does not in itself mean "available", especially when the process is not even finished!– nxxCommented Mar 4, 2014 at 12:15