had been being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had been being' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used when you are talking about an action which has already taken place and is in the past. For example: "The car had been being used for weeks before it finally broke down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Kirch noted that during her husband's illness, she herself had been being doing the work required.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"And people were buying back the euro because that is the currency that had been being shorted the most against the dollar," he added.

The Guardian - Business

In a sort of Solomonic decision, the Fed approved a cap of 21 to 24 cents a transaction, down from an average of 44 cents that had been being charged.

The New York Times

The straw that broke the adorably nice camel's back, she explained, was when a hack of Sony emails last year revealed she had been being paid substantially less than her male co-workers on films she had starred in.

Independent

The celebrated figure had been being cared for full-time by staff at a nursing home where he lived with his wife Sheila Sim, also 92, whom he married in 1945.

Independent

Tonja Carter said Lee, 88, was "extremely hurt and humiliated" by reports she had been being duped by people who wanted to publish the work, Go Set a Watchman, without her approval.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Where its eyes had been were deep holes.

The New Yorker

Pyatt had been been benched for the previous two games.

The New York Times - Sports

What she had been was gone; it had been taken from her.

The New Yorker

Any trust there had been was gone.

BBC

No detail had been been forgotten in the choreography.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been being" to emphasize the duration and continuity of an action that occurred before another point in the past. It helps to show that something was in progress for a period of time before something else happened.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "had been being" as it can make sentences wordy and convoluted. Try to rephrase sentences using active voice where possible to improve clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been being" functions as the past perfect progressive tense, indicating an action that was in progress for a period of time before another action or point in the past. Ludwig provides examples showing its usage in describing ongoing actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been being" serves as the past perfect progressive tense, used to describe ongoing actions completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, including news and encyclopedias. While "had been being" is acceptable, writers should aim for clarity and consider alternative phrasing to avoid wordiness. By understanding its function and context, you can effectively use "had been being" to emphasize the duration of past actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been undergoing

Focuses on a process of change or experience over a period in the past.

had been experiencing

Highlights the continuous sensation or feeling of something over time.

had been subject to

Emphasizes that someone or something was continuously affected or influenced.

had continually been

Adds emphasis on the uninterrupted nature of the past action.

had persistently been

Stresses the ongoing and repetitive nature of an action.

had consistently been

Indicates a regular and unchanging pattern of action or state.

had routinely been

Suggests that something happened as a standard practice or habit.

had always been

Highlights the constant nature of something throughout a period.

had previously been

Focuses on the state or action before a specific point in the past.

had formerly been

Emphasizes the change from a past state to the present.

FAQs

How is "had been being" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been being" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. For example, "The project "had been being" developed for months before it was cancelled".

Are there alternatives to "had been being" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had been undergoing", "had experienced", or simply rephrase the sentence to use a more active voice.

What does "had been being" emphasize in a sentence?

The phrase "had been being" emphasizes the duration and continuous nature of an action that took place over a period of time before another event in the past.

Is it grammatically correct to use "had been being"?

Yes, "had been being" is grammatically correct, although it can sometimes make sentences sound awkward or verbose. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers several examples of its usage.