had been delaying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been delaying" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past and has since been completed or is no longer happening. Example: "She had been delaying her decision about the job offer until she received more information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The phone companies had asserted that many municipalities had been delaying approvals, often in the face of cable industry lobbying.

The New York Times

In July, laid-off workers temporarily blockaded its plant in Nantong, just north of Shanghai, and the company announced that it had been delaying payments to suppliers and staff members because of a cash crunch.

The New York Times

An article in Slate earlier this week said the White House had been delaying release of the environmental assessment for political reasons, violating the Obama administration's pledge to make decisions based on science.

The New York Times

In the interview published on Monday, Mr. Luzhkov said that political leaders had been delaying that decision as long as possible because the suspense was the only motivation government officials had to fulfill their duties.

The New York Times

In May, the publishing company Hachette revealed that the online retailer Amazon had been delaying shipment of physical books published by Hachette while the companies argued over how e-books should be sold on Amazon.

The New Yorker

The dramatic rise came against a background of falls in bonuses over the last year, suggesting recipients had been delaying collecting until the Government's cut in the top rate of income tax came into effect in April.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Andrews, meanwhile, had been delayed.

The New York Times

Nationalists repeatedly claimed it had been delayed.

Independent

On this occasion he had been delayed.

The Economist

My train had been delayed.

The Guardian

They had been delayed, that was all.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been delaying" to clearly indicate a past action of postponing that has relevance to the present situation. This tense provides context and emphasizes the duration of the delay.

Common error

Avoid switching between past perfect continuous ("had been delaying") and simple past ("delayed") without a clear reason. Maintain consistent tense to avoid confusing the reader about the timeline of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been delaying" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action or point in time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been delaying" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's effective for describing a past action of intentionally postponing something over a period of time. While suitable for a variety of contexts, it is most frequently found in news and media, as well as formal and business communications. When using this phrase, ensure consistent tense usage to avoid confusion and clearly convey the timeline of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been postponing

Emphasizes a deliberate act of putting something off to a later time.

had been deferring

Highlights the act of yielding or submitting to another's wishes by delaying.

had been putting off

Indicates an avoidance of a task or decision, often due to dislike or discomfort.

had been holding back

Suggests a conscious restraint or withholding of something.

had been suspending

Implies a temporary cessation or interruption of an activity.

had been adjourning

Refers to formally postponing a meeting or session.

had been protracting

Highlights the lengthening or prolonging of a process or event.

had been stalling

Suggests a deliberate attempt to delay progress, often deceptively.

had been impeding

Focuses on hindering or obstructing the progress of something.

had been obstructing

Implies deliberately creating obstacles to prevent something from happening.

FAQs

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

Use "had been delaying" to describe an action of postponing something that occurred over a period of time in the past, before another event. For example: "The company "had been delaying" the product launch until they secured more funding."

What are some alternatives to "had been delaying"?

Alternatives include "had been postponing", "had been deferring", or "had been putting off", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "had been delaying" formal or informal?

"Had been delaying" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "had been delaying" and "delayed"?

"Had been delaying" indicates a continuous action of delaying over a period of time in the past, while "delayed" simply states that something was delayed at some point in the past. The former emphasizes the duration of the delay.