had been contemplating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been contemplating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past continuous thought process or consideration that occurred before another event in the past. Example: "She had been contemplating a career change for months before finally making the decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Francona had been contemplating a change anyway.

The New York Times - Sports

As it happened, Livni had been contemplating that idea herself.

The New Yorker

I had been contemplating taking action for some while.

The Guardian - Opinion

The 60-year-old Brown had been contemplating retirement.

The New York Times - Sports

Jankowski had been contemplating a commission for Performa 07, a festival of performance-based visual art.

The New Yorker

Other victims had been contemplating their retirement from the beer business.

The New York Times

Ms. Hendeles had been contemplating parting with her collection for years.

The New York Times - Arts

Nevertheless, the sharp fall has spooked investors and other banks that had been contemplating rights issues.

The Economist

The eye, which had been contemplating power and grandeur now became tender.

The Guardian - Books

But he said he had been contemplating the move for some time.

The New York Times - Sports

Over he past two or three years, China's central government had been contemplating revising its ambient air-quality standards.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been contemplating" to indicate a prolonged period of consideration before a decision or action. It adds depth and context to the timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been contemplating" when referring to a present or future action. It strictly refers to a continuous action in the past that ended before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been contemplating" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It's used to describe an action of considering something over a period that ended before another action in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been contemplating" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a past continuous action of thinking about something. According to Ludwig, it's generally accepted and suitable for various writing styles, particularly in news, media, and academic fields. When using the phrase, ensure that you're correctly referencing a past action, avoiding confusion with present or future tenses. Consider alternatives like "had been considering" or "had been thinking about" for simpler phrasing. The phrase is common and widely understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been considering

Replaces "contemplating" with a more general term for thinking about something.

had been thinking about

Uses a simpler and more direct way of expressing the same idea.

had been mulling over

Implies a more prolonged and thoughtful consideration.

had been pondering

Suggests a deeper and more reflective consideration.

had been weighing up

Emphasizes the process of balancing different options or factors.

had been giving thought to

A more formal way of saying "had been thinking about".

had entertained the idea of

Suggests considering an idea without necessarily committing to it.

had been toying with the idea of

Implies a less serious or more casual consideration.

had been planning

Focuses on the planning aspect, implying a more concrete intention.

had been preparing for

Highlights the preparatory aspect of the consideration.

FAQs

What does "had been contemplating" mean?

It means someone was thinking about or considering something for a period of time in the past before making a decision or taking action.

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

You can use it to describe a past continuous thought process. For example: "She "had been contemplating" a career change for months before finally making the decision".

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

You can use alternatives like "had been considering", "had been thinking about", or "had been pondering" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "had been contemplating" and "had contemplated"?

"Had been contemplating" implies a continuous process of thinking over a period, while "had contemplated" suggests a single instance or a completed action of thinking about something in the past. For example, "She "had been contemplating" moving abroad for years" versus "She had contemplated the risks before investing".