had been drafting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been drafting" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred. Example: "She had been drafting the report for weeks before the deadline was moved up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

This was illegal and Whitehall tried to cover its tracks by saying that there had been drafting mistakes.

The Guardian

Drawn by New Jersey's activist Supreme Court and a Democratic-controlled State House, the national group Lambda Legal had been drafting the suit for more than a year.

The New York Times

While Mr. Bush had been drafting his own proposals, administration officials and Congressional aides said Dr. Frist's elevation enhanced the prospect that they would be taken seriously on Capitol Hill.

The New York Times

In 1996, the notion of a "corporate code of conduct" was not the fashionable idea it is today, but Mattel had been drafting such a set of ethical principles for more than a year.

The New York Times - Magazine

The plan to call a vote – announced abruptly on Wednesday evening by Egypt, which had been drafting the resolution – was postponed indefinitely a few hours ahead of the planned security council meeting on Thursday afternoon.

The Guardian

China's government had been drafting new safety standards for school buses for two years when an accident last week killed 21 preschoolers and two adults, a state newspaper reported.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He had been drafted.

The New York Times

Meanwhile Mr. Salinger had been drafted.

The New York Times - Books

She had been drafted by the Israeli army.

Princeton University

MacDonald, the academic, had been drafted onto the panel.

The Guardian

No player had been drafted in the previous five years.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been drafting" to clearly indicate an ongoing action of creating a document or plan that occurred in the past before another event or time.

Common error

Avoid using simple past tense ("drafted") when you want to emphasize the duration of the drafting process before a specific point in the past. "Drafted" suggests a completed action, while "had been drafting" highlights the ongoing nature of the work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been drafting" functions as a past perfect progressive verb phrase. It combines the auxiliary verb "had", the past participle "been", and the present participle "drafting" to indicate an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action or point in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been drafting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect progressive verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is particularly useful for emphasizing the duration of a drafting process that occurred before a specific point in the past. While appropriate for various contexts, it appears most frequently in news and media sources. When writing, remember that this form underlines the ongoing nature of the work, differentiating it from a simple past action. Considering alternatives like "had been writing" or "had been composing" can provide nuance based on the specific context. Keep in mind also that alternatives like "had been preparing" or "had been composing" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been composing

Focuses more on the act of creating written content, like a letter or a musical piece.

had been preparing

Emphasizes the act of making something ready or suitable for a specific purpose.

had been formulating

Highlights the process of developing a plan or strategy in a systematic way.

had been creating

A broader term indicating the act of bringing something into existence.

had been writing

Specifically refers to the act of putting words down on paper or screen.

had been drawing up

Implies the creation of a formal document, such as a contract or agreement.

had been putting together

Suggests a collaborative or step-by-step process of creating something.

had been outlining

Focuses on the initial stages of planning and structuring a document or plan.

had been conceiving

Emphasizes the mental act of forming an idea or plan.

had been originating

Suggests the beginning or initial development of something new.

FAQs

How do I use "had been drafting" in a sentence?

Use "had been drafting" to describe an action of creating or preparing a document that was in progress for some time before another action occurred or a specific time in the past. For example: "She "had been drafting" the proposal for weeks before the meeting was scheduled".

What are some alternatives to "had been drafting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "had been preparing", "had been composing", or "had been writing".

Is "had been drafting" formal or informal?

"Had been drafting" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in professional or neutral writing where clarity and precision are important.

What's the difference between "had been drafting" and "drafted"?

"Had been drafting" indicates a continuous action in the past before another point in time, while "drafted" simply indicates that the action of drafting was completed at some point in the past. For example: "She "had been drafting" the email all morning before she finally sent it", versus "She drafted the email yesterday".