had been choosing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been choosing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred. Example: "She had been choosing her words carefully before she finally spoke up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He's always been pro-life," said Art Ellingsen, who said he had been choosing candidates based on their abortion stance since "six months after Roe vs. Wade happened".

The New York Times

The highlight of the day had been choosing a hammock, and we had nothing to do but share beers with the deckhands and watch them play cards.

The Guardian - Travel

She says she had been choosing between Universal and EMI, but that an exclusive deal with Tesco would see the grocer stock enough LPs for her to go platinum straightaway.

The Guardian - Music

Companies had been choosing the trust structure mainly to benefit from not having to pay corporate income tax.

Forbes

If The Penguin had been choosing envelopes, he'd have ended up owing the tree $10,000.

Huffington Post

Critics note that they chose the path despite the recent danger faced by Ukrainian military transport planes at the hands of rebel fighters -- and even though a number of European and other airlines had been choosing to circumvent the troubled airspace.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He said no specific issues had been chosen.

The New York Times

Instead a zone had been chosen where "nothing remarkable" grows.

The Guardian - Arts

United of Manchester" had been chosen, beating "A.F.C.

Wikipedia

The ρ value had been chosen experimentally (see Section 3).

Analytical Cellular Pathology

This intervention had been chosen for two reasons.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been choosing", ensure the context provides a clear indication of the timeframe and the alternatives being considered. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been choosing" when a simple past tense ("chose") or present perfect continuous tense ("has been choosing") is more appropriate. "Had been choosing" is specifically for actions completed before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been choosing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past perfect continuous action. It describes an action of selecting or deciding that was ongoing for a period of time before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys a sustained activity of making choices.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been choosing" is a verb phrase used to describe a continuous action of selecting or deciding that occurred over a period in the past, before another event took place. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and the examples show usage in both news and scientific sources. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe and the alternatives being considered. Alternatives like "had been selecting" or "had been opting for" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Be mindful of using the correct tense; "had been choosing" is specifically for actions completed before another point in the past and is distinct from "has been choosing" or "had chosen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been selecting

Emphasizes a more deliberate and careful process of picking from a range of options.

had been opting for

Suggests a decision-making process where one alternative is favored over others.

had been favoring

Implies a leaning towards something based on preference or perceived benefit.

had been deciding on

Focuses on the process of reaching a decision after considering different possibilities.

had been settling on

Suggests a final decision, possibly after some deliberation or compromise.

had been inclined to

Indicates a tendency or predisposition towards a particular choice.

had shown a preference for

Highlights the demonstration of a clear liking or choice for something.

had been leaning towards

Similar to "inclined to", but suggests a more tentative or less firm preference.

had gravitated towards

Implies a natural or unconscious attraction to a particular option.

had been predisposed to

Suggests a pre-existing inclination or tendency to choose something.

FAQs

How do I use "had been choosing" in a sentence?

Use "had been choosing" to describe an ongoing action of selecting or deciding that was happening in the past before another event occurred. For example: "She "had been choosing" her words carefully before she spoke."

What can I say instead of "had been choosing"?

You can use alternatives like "had been selecting", "had been opting for", or "had been favoring" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "had been choosing" and "had chosen"?

"Had been choosing" emphasizes the ongoing process of selecting over a period of time in the past, while "had chosen" indicates a completed action of making a selection at a specific point in the past. For example: "She "had been choosing" a dress for hours before she finally "had chosen" one."

When is it appropriate to use "had been choosing" versus "has been choosing"?

"Had been choosing" is used to describe a past action that occurred before another point in the past. "Has been choosing" describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example: "She "has been choosing" a gift for her friend all day." (present) versus "She "had been choosing" a gift for hours before she finally found the perfect one." (past)."