had been consulting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been consulting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an ongoing action or state that occurred before another action in the past. Example: "Before making the final decision, she had been consulting with various experts in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Both officials said the administration had been consulting with leading members of Congress.

The New York Times

He asked softly, "Who cares, though?" Braun had been consulting with the film editors.

The New Yorker

The Jets had been consulting with Meyers over the last few weeks about Abraham's condition.

The New York Times - Sports

I was starting to feel as if I had been consulting a bunch of online astrologers.

The New York Times

Schumacher had been consulting for Ferrari, his team from 1996 until his retirement in 2006.

The New York Times - Sports

The ONS had been consulting on CPIH for several years, he said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

None of them had been consulted.

The New Yorker

If Mark Twain had been consulted, the program might have worked.

The New York Times - Books

None of its members had been consulted by Mr Sankoh.

The Economist

He said he had been consulted before officers entered Parliament.

Independent

Neither Heath, nor any of his colleagues had been consulted.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been consulting", ensure the context clearly indicates the period over which the consulting took place. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a clearer timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been consulting" when a simple past tense, such as "consulted", is more appropriate. "Had been consulting" implies a continuous action in the past before another past action. If no such prior action exists, "consulted" is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been consulting" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action of seeking or giving advice that was ongoing for a period before another action or time in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been consulting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect continuous verb phrase that indicates an ongoing action of seeking or providing advice before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides ample examples from reputable sources, mainly in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly conveys the duration and sequence of events to avoid ambiguity. Remember to consider alternatives like "had sought advice from" or "had conferred with" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had conferred with

Emphasizes a formal discussion or exchange of opinions.

had sought the opinion of

Directly indicates the act of asking for someone's view or judgment.

had sought advice from

Focuses more on the action of seeking advice, emphasizing the individual's initiative.

had taken counsel from

Implies a more formal and deliberate seeking of advice.

had obtained guidance from

Highlights the act of receiving specific direction or advice.

had received input from

Highlights the contribution of ideas or information from others.

had engaged in discussions with

Focuses on the interactive aspect of consulting, emphasizing dialogue.

had been in talks with

Highlights the ongoing nature of conversations and negotiations.

had worked with as an advisor

Highlights the collaborative aspect of a consultation using a formal advisor role

had picked the brains of

Implies gathering knowledge and insights from an expert in an informal setting

FAQs

How is "had been consulting" used in a sentence?

Use "had been consulting" to describe an action of seeking advice or expertise that continued for a period before another event in the past. For example, "Before launching the product, the team "had been consulting" with marketing experts for several months".

What phrases are similar to "had been consulting"?

Similar phrases include "had sought advice from", "had conferred with", or "had obtained guidance from", each subtly altering the emphasis on seeking versus receiving counsel.

When should I use "had consulted" instead of "had been consulting"?

"Had consulted" is appropriate when referring to a completed action in the past without emphasizing the duration or continuous nature of the consulting. "Had been consulting", on the other hand, emphasizes the ongoing nature of the advice-seeking process before a subsequent event.

What's the difference between "had been consulting" and "was consulting"?

"Was consulting" describes an action happening at a specific time in the past, while ""had been consulting"" describes an action that started in the past, continued for a period, and finished before another point in the past.