had been complying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been complying" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was following rules or requests over a period of time in the past, often before another event occurred. Example: "Before the new regulations were introduced, the company had been complying with all industry standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A department spokeswoman, Dawn McDaniel, said her agency thought Mr. Kolenda had been complying until it received the most recent complaints, from Lux Bond & Green and the Marine Corps League.

The New York Times

Until Edward Snowden came forward, the Silicon Valley giant had been complying with the FISA court orders for years, if not quite in the way that one of Snowden's documents suggested.

The New Yorker

The Sands acknowledged in the agreement that while it believed it had been complying with federal laws, the company failed to "fully appreciate the suspicious nature of the information" coming from Mr. Ye Gon and should have done more to alert the authorities about him.

The New York Times

News organisations had been complying with a request from Obama administration officials, who said it might undermine operations and collaboration with Saudi Arabia, the Washington Post reported.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It has emerged that the governors did not satisfy themselves about the truth of the reports, confining themselves to judging whether procedures had been complied with.

The Economist

The reforms also ensured that the courts were left with little or no discretion to block extradition once the formalities had been complied with.

The Guardian

The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, told the Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, in a letter that the legal requirements for the tribunal had been complied with.

The Guardian

The department of corrections stressed that the two reviews were the initial reports into the execution and were narrowly cast to look specifically at whether the requirements of the state's death penalty protocol had been complied with.

The Guardian

Assuming the DPA had been complied with, the school could argue that retention was necessary in a democratic society to ensure attendance of pupils at school or prevent bullying and stigmatisation (protection of the rights and freedoms of others).

The Guardian - Opinion

He insisted that all security protocols had been complied with before the plane took off.

BBC

The Speaker has to also certify that the conditions of the bill had been complied with.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been complying", ensure that the time frame of compliance is clear, either through explicit dates or contextual clues.

Common error

Avoid using "had been complying" when a simpler past tense ("complied") or present perfect continuous ("has/have been complying") is more appropriate for the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been complying" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action of adhering to rules or regulations that occurred over a period of time before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been complying" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense used to describe a sustained action of adherence to rules or regulations before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. While not extremely common, the phrase is useful for conveying a sense of ongoing compliance over time. When using it, ensure clarity regarding the timeframe of compliance. Consider alternatives like "had been following" or "had been adhering to" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been adhering to

Replaces "complying" with a synonym that emphasizes sticking to something closely.

had been conforming to

Substitutes "complying" with a term suggesting alignment with established norms or standards.

had been following

Offers a more general term for "complying", indicating adherence to instructions or guidelines.

had been abiding by

Replaces "complying" with a phrase that highlights respect for and obedience to rules.

had been observing

Similar to following but with a stronger emphasis on carefully watching and adhering to rules.

had been respecting

Focuses on showing consideration for and acting in accordance with regulations.

had been acting in accordance with

A formal alternative, emphasizing alignment with specific rules or principles.

had been meeting the requirements of

Specifies that standards or preconditions have been fulfilled.

had been in line with

Indicates agreement or conformity with a set of rules or standards.

had been executing

Implies carrying out or performing actions required by rules or regulations.

FAQs

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

Use "had been complying" to indicate that an action of compliance occurred regularly over a period of time before another action. For example, "The company "had been complying" with environmental regulations until the new law was passed".

What are some alternatives to "had been complying"?

You can use phrases like "had been following", "had been adhering to", or "had been conforming to" as alternatives, depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "had been complying" and "complied"?

"Had been complying" indicates a continuous action in the past before another event, while "complied" suggests a completed action in the past. For instance, "They "had been complying" with the rules for years" versus "They "complied" with the new regulations".

Is it correct to say "has been complying" instead of "had been complying"?

It depends on the context. "Has been complying" refers to compliance that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had been complying" refers to a period of compliance completed before a specific point in the past.