had been contemplating for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been contemplating for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been thinking about something for a certain period of time in the past. Example: "She had been contemplating for several weeks whether to accept the job offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Finally, he folded his arms across his waistcoat, leaned back in his chair, inclined his head a little, looked directly into Julia's eyes — and proposed the experimental treatment that he had been contemplating for six months before the onset of her symptoms had brought her to his hospital.

The New Yorker

The transmedia approach fits into what Arem had been contemplating for years, but on which he hadn't fully acted.

Vice

He had been contemplating for some time a return to the House of Commons, and in February 1959 was adopted as a candidate by the safe Barking constituency.

Wikipedia

Shortly after the publication of the Conquest of Peru, Prescott turned his mind to writing a history of Philip II of Spain, which he had been contemplating for several years.

Wikipedia

In 1932, Du Bois was selected by several philanthropies – including the Phelps-Stokes Fund, the Carnegie Corporation, and the General Education Board – to be the managing editor for a proposed Encyclopedia of the Negro, a work Du Bois had been contemplating for 30 years.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr. Pfeiffer said an appearance on "The View" had been contemplated for several weeks because the president was scheduled to be in New York City for a fund-raiser.

The New York Times

"This is something Mr. Turner has been contemplating for a long time," the spokesman said.

The New York Times

But Suárez's decision to speak out, a decision he has been contemplating for a while, may change the situation.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's something we've been contemplating for a while but while we're still making the TV show it's not something we've had the opportunity to work on," he told the Guardian.

Independent

Following the news that the forthcoming sixth season of Downton on ITV and PBS will be the last, executive producer Gareth Neame told the Guardian: "It's something we've been contemplating for a while but while we're still making the TV show it's not something we've had the opportunity to work on".

The Guardian

Sunday I finally pulled the trigger on a move I've been contemplating for a very long time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to indicate that the consideration is now complete and a decision has been made, action taken, or situation resolved. The emphasis should be on the prior deliberation leading to the present state.

Common error

Avoid using "had been contemplating for" when the action is ongoing. The past perfect continuous tense implies the contemplation has ceased or led to a result. Use the present perfect continuous ("has been contemplating") if the consideration is still in progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been contemplating for" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It indicates a prolonged period of thinking or considering something before a specific point in the past. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows the phrase used to describe past deliberations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been contemplating for" is a grammatically sound and useful way to express a period of sustained thought or consideration in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense and is commonly found in news and media contexts. While alternative phrases like "had been considering for" or "had been thinking about for" exist, "had been contemplating for" emphasizes the duration and depth of the thought process. Remember to use the phrase when referring to a completed period of deliberation that has led to a result, and to avoid it when the contemplation is ongoing. The frequency of use of this expression is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been considering for

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

had been thinking about for

Uses a simpler and more direct way to express the idea of considering.

had been pondering for

Substitutes "contemplating" with a word that suggests deeper thought.

had been mulling over for

Replaces "contemplating" with an idiom that implies careful consideration.

had been weighing up for

Replaces "contemplating" with a phrase that suggests evaluating different options.

had been giving thought to for

Uses a more formal expression to convey the idea of considering.

had entertained the idea of for

Focuses on considering an idea, rather than a general contemplation.

had been toying with for

Implies a less serious or committed form of contemplation.

had been reflecting on for

Replaces "contemplating" with a word suggesting deeper, more personal thought.

had been meditating on for

Implies a more spiritual or introspective type of contemplation.

FAQs

What does "had been contemplating for" mean?

It means someone has been thinking about something for a certain amount of time in the past. It suggests a period of sustained consideration that has likely concluded or led to a decision.

How can I rephrase "had been contemplating for"?

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

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

The correct tense depends on the context. "Had been contemplating for" refers to a period of consideration in the past that is now complete. "Has been contemplating for" implies the consideration is still ongoing to the present.

When should I use "had been contemplating for" versus other similar phrases?

"Had been contemplating for" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the duration of thought leading up to a past decision or event. If the duration isn't as important, simpler phrases like "had considered" may suffice.