had been bribing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been bribing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that occurred in the past before another past event. Example: "The investigation revealed that he had been bribing officials for years before he was caught."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Such incursions have long been all but proscribed in Albany; Bruno told me that Spitzer had been "bribing several of my members" and "dishonest".

The New Yorker

According to the indictment, Mr. Schussler had been bribing tax assessors since 1967, when he retired from a 30-year career as a municipal tax assessor.

The New York Times

Low point: The company paid $1.6m£1m1m) to settle a case after discovering a subsidiary had been bribing customs officials in Argentina.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The managers had gathered to hash through a federal prosecutor's request for some company documents and quickly realized the records could be used as evidence that the company had been bribing foreign officials.

The New York Times

But even when the difficulty of the task is taken into account, the government has made a shameful hash of it.In 2006 it emerged that journalists on tabloid newspapers had been hacking people's phones and, later, that they had been bribing policemen for information.

The Economist

China Daily also reported Monday that Rio Tinto staff had been bribing Chinese steel mill executives participating in iron ore price talks for years, so much so that the practice had become an unwritten market ritual.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

State investigators later determined that prison authorities and guards had been bribed.

The New York Times

He eventually left office in 1995 amid accusations he had been bribed by the Yakuza.

The Guardian - Sport

He almost went with Mrs. Bachmann until she claimed that her state chairman, Kent Sorenson, had been bribed by Mr. Paul.

The New York Times

She was reassured that the Indian customs officer had been bribed and it was going to be safe to leave.

The Guardian - Money

The new administrator had been bribed into selling off the villagers' communal land, without consulting the village council.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been bribing", ensure that the context clearly indicates a past action that occurred over a period of time before another point in the past. It highlights a prolonged or repeated behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "had been bribing" when describing a single, isolated incident of bribery. Use "had bribed" instead to indicate a completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been bribing" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect progressive tense. This indicates an action of offering bribes that was ongoing before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been bribing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past perfect progressive tense. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for describing a continuous action of offering bribes in the past, before another action or time. Its usage is prevalent in news, media, and encyclopedic contexts. While related phrases such as "had been corrupting" and "had been influencing with bribes" offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings, "had been bribing" specifically highlights the continuous nature of the bribery. The phrase is considered neutral in register, making it appropriate for various communication styles. When employing this term, ensure that the context reflects a prolonged behavior rather than an isolated event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been engaging in bribery

A more formal and direct way of stating the act of bribing.

had been influencing with bribes

Emphasizes the method of influence, specifying that it was achieved through bribes.

had been corrupting

Focuses more broadly on the act of making something immoral or rotten, not specifically through bribery.

had been buying influence

Highlights the intent to gain power or advantage through monetary means.

had been paying off

A more informal way to say bribing, suggesting payments to gain favors or silence.

had been offering kickbacks

Suggests returning a portion of a payment as an inducement.

had been suborning

Implies inducing someone to commit perjury or another unlawful act.

had been greasing palms

An idiomatic expression for bribing, implying the offering of money for favorable treatment.

had been sweetening the pot

Implies adding something to an offer to make it more attractive, often illicitly.

had been perverting justice

Focuses on the outcome of bribery, which is the distortion of fairness and the legal system.

FAQs

How can I use "had been bribing" in a sentence?

"Had been bribing" is used to describe a continuous action of offering bribes that occurred over a period in the past, before another action. For example, "The investigation revealed that the company "had been bribing" officials for years before the scandal broke".

What are some alternatives to "had been bribing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had been corrupting", "had been influencing with bribes", or "had been paying off".

What's the difference between "had been bribing" and "had bribed"?

"Had bribed" indicates a completed action of giving a bribe at a specific time in the past. "Had been bribing" indicates a continuous or repeated action of giving bribes over a period in the past. For example, "He "had bribed" the guard once" versus "He "had been bribing" the guards for months".

Is "had been bribing" formal or informal?

"Had been bribing" is neither particularly formal nor informal; its formality depends on the context in which it is used. It is suitable for news reports, legal documents, and general conversation.