had been considering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been considering" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was thinking about something over a period of time in the past before a certain point. Example: "She had been considering a career change for several months before finally making the decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Juan had been considering turning back.

The Guardian

The company had been considering something similar.

MIT Technology Review

Booker had been considering Notre Dame.

The New York Times - Sports

But prosecutors had been considering indicting him on bribery charges.

The New York Times

The chief justice had been considering the international context.

The New York Times

But what Goldman had been considering was not illegal.

The New York Times

Current TV had been considering a sale for several months.

The New York Times

So I had been considering what to do.

The New York Times

Democratic leaders had been considering such a compromise.

The New York Times

He said he had been considering retiring long before that.

The Guardian - Tech

He had been considering leaving since March and felt the time now had come to resign.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been considering" to describe a process of thinking about something over a period of time before making a decision or taking action.

Common error

Avoid using "had been considering" when referring to a current or future action. It is specific to past actions or states that occurred over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been considering" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was in progress for a period of time before another point in the past. This is supported by Ludwig's examples which illustrate the action of contemplating something over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been considering" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed past perfect continuous construction. Ludwig AI confirms this by stating that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase describes a period of deliberation before a certain point in the past and is versatile enough for use across neutral to professional registers, especially in "News & Media" and academic contexts. When aiming to provide context about past thought processes, "had been considering" serves as an effective choice. For those seeking alternatives, options like "had contemplated" or "had thought about" can be considered based on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had thought about

A more general and less formal way of saying someone was considering something.

had contemplated

This alternative uses a more formal verb to express the act of thinking deeply about something.

had weighed the possibility of

Implies a careful and balanced assessment of a potential action or event.

had pondered

Similar to contemplating, but may suggest a sense of wonder or curiosity.

had entertained the idea of

This phrase suggests that someone was open to a particular thought or possibility.

had reflected on

Implies thinking deeply and seriously about something, often based on past experiences.

had mulled over

Suggests a more prolonged and reflective period of consideration.

had envisioned

This suggests imagining or visualizing a potential future outcome or scenario.

had taken into account

Indicates that something was considered as a factor when making a decision.

had assessed

Suggests a formal evaluation or judgment of something.

FAQs

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

Use "had been considering" to indicate that someone was thinking about something over a period of time in the past. For example, "She "had been considering" a career change for months before finally deciding to quit her job".

What are some alternatives to "had been considering"?

You can use alternatives like "had thought about", "had contemplated", or "had weighed" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "had been considering" and "is considering"?

"Had been considering" refers to a past action or state that occurred over a period of time, whereas "is considering" refers to a present action. For example, "She "had been considering" a new job" (in the past), versus "She is considering a new job" (right now).

Is it appropriate to use "had been considering" in formal writing?

Yes, "had been considering" is appropriate for formal writing, as it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various professional and academic contexts.