had been citing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been citing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was referencing or quoting a source over a period of time in the past. Example: "The researcher had been citing various studies to support her argument throughout the paper."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It will also weaken a competitive advantage Epoch Capital Partners had been citing to potential clients.

The New York Times

Her eldest son and his wife had been citing the lack of a spare bedroom for the delay, she said.

The New York Times

They had been citing their own increasing expenses to push for a greater increase in the lease caps.

The New York Times

General business conditions somehow crept into the conversation and Mr. Andrew thought things were a lot better than they had been, citing increase in value of stocks and bonds.

The New Yorker

It all began with a Franco-Russian dispute over a grotto in Bethlehem, traditionally revered as birthplace of the Prince of Peace.Since the mid-18th century, Orthodox Russia had been citing treaties to insist strongly on its role as the protector of its co-religionists, and of Christian holy places, under the Ottoman sultan's rule.

The Economist

"The chaos prevailing among writers or printers or both regarding the use of hyphens is discreditable to English education," he began, and about halfway through he threw up his hands and said of the examples he had been citing, "the evidence they afford" is "that common sense is in fact far from common".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

(They had been cited for identical speeding offenses).

The New Yorker

The contractors had been cited for a series of violations.

The New York Times

As of July 12, 277 restaurants had been cited.

The New York Times

The claim had been cited publicly by President Bush.

The New York Times

Only 0.3% had been cited more than 500 times.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been citing", ensure the context clearly indicates a continuous or repeated action of citing over a period of time in the past. For example: 'The lawyer had been citing precedents throughout the trial to build their case.'

Common error

Avoid using "had been citing" if the action of citing occurred only once or within a very short timeframe. Use "had cited" instead. For example: "The author had cited the study in his paper" is correct, rather than using the continuous form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been citing" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action of referencing or quoting that was ongoing for a period of time before a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been citing" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense used to describe an ongoing action of referencing or quoting over a period in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. Remember to use this phrase when indicating a continuous or repeated action of citing, and choose the simpler "had cited" for single instance references. Alternatives like "had referenced" or "had quoted" can provide nuanced substitutions depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had referenced

Focuses more generally on mentioning a source, without necessarily implying direct quotation.

had quoted

Specifically indicates the use of direct quotations from a source.

had made reference to

A more formal way of saying 'had referenced'.

had drawn upon

Suggests a more comprehensive use of a source, implying influence.

had pointed to

Emphasizes directing attention to a specific element within a source.

had used as evidence

Highlights the function of the source as supporting proof.

had relied on

Implies a dependence on the cited material for justification or support.

had invoked

Suggests a formal or authoritative use of the cited material.

had appealed to

Implies an attempt to persuade by referencing a respected authority.

had taken from

Indicates a direct borrowing or adoption of ideas from a source.

FAQs

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

Use "had been citing" to describe a repeated or ongoing action of referencing a source in the past. For instance, "The analyst had been citing economic indicators to support her predictions".

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

Alternatives include "had referenced", "had quoted", or "had mentioned" depending on the context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "was citing" instead of "had been citing"?

While "was citing" indicates an action in progress, "had been citing" specifies that the action occurred over a period of time before another point in the past. Choose the tense that best reflects the timing of the action.

What's the difference between "had cited" and "had been citing"?

"Had cited" indicates a completed action of citing, while "had been citing" indicates a continuous or repeated action of citing over a period of time. The continuous tense emphasizes the duration or repetition of the action.