had been dropping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been dropping" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred. Example: "The temperature had been dropping steadily throughout the night, leading to a frost warning by morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It had been dropping consistently.

The Washington Post

The lime trees had been dropping their nectar overnight".

The New York Times - Books

The tunnel ceiling had been dropping, obliging me to crouch.

The New Yorker

And smoking rates, which had been dropping for decades, have flattened out in recent years.

The New York Times

The bus had been dropping off children and using a normal civilian road, she said.

The New York Times

Supposedly, people had been dropping objects from it, causing injuries on ships below.

The New York Times

"They knew the guy had been dropping off his parents here when they clearly had dementia.

The New York Times

Although D'Antoni never announced that Marbury was out of the rotation, he had been dropping hints.

The New York Times - Sports

The young man talked about dropping the Fat Alberts on the Vietnamese as if he had been dropping confetti..

The New Yorker

Late Monday, the wind grounded the aircraft that had been dropping water and fire retardant over the flames.

The New York Times

Sarkozy's poll numbers had been dropping, and the papers said that he felt the need to show strength.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been dropping" to describe a continuous decline or decrease that occurred over a period of time in the past, especially when followed by another event. For instance: "Sales had been dropping steadily before the new marketing campaign was launched."

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("dropped") when the action of dropping was ongoing for a period of time before another event. "The stock dropped" implies a single event, whereas "the stock had been dropping" indicates a continuous decline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been dropping" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. According to Ludwig AI, this tense indicates an action that was in progress over a period of time that ended before another action or point in time in the past. The Examples from Ludwig show it describing trends, actions and events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been dropping" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense used to describe a continuous decline or decrease over a period in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal writing. When using the phrase, ensure the sentence structure supports the past perfect continuous tense to accurately convey the intended meaning of a sustained trend or ongoing action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been declining

Indicates a gradual decrease or deterioration, similar to dropping in the sense of a downward trend.

had been decreasing

Implies a reduction in quantity, size, or intensity, analogous to something dropping in value or amount.

had been falling

Suggests a descent or decline, mirroring the idea of something physically or metaphorically dropping.

had been diminishing

Indicates a gradual reduction or weakening, akin to a slow but steady drop in numbers or quality.

had been receding

Suggests a withdrawal or lessening, similar to water levels or support dropping away.

had been lessening

Implies a reduction in intensity or degree, much like the force or impact of something dropping.

had been unloading

Focuses on the action of removing or discharging, akin to a vehicle dropping off passengers or cargo.

had been depositing

Emphasizes the act of placing or leaving something, similar to repeatedly dropping items.

had been leaving

Focuses on the act of departing, as in, a bus had been leaving people on the road.

had been shedding

Implies a casting off or loss, such as shedding leaves which have been dropping for some time.

FAQs

When should I use "had been dropping" instead of "had dropped"?

"Had been dropping" indicates a continuous action over a period in the past, while "had dropped" indicates a completed action. For example, "The price had been dropping for weeks" implies a gradual decline, whereas "The price had dropped suddenly" suggests an abrupt change.

What are some alternatives to "had been dropping" that also indicate a decline?

You can use alternatives like "had been declining", "had been decreasing", or "had been falling" to convey a similar meaning of a gradual reduction.

Is "had been dropping" formal or informal language?

"Had been dropping" is considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

How do I ensure I'm using "had been dropping" correctly in a sentence?

Make sure the sentence structure supports the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and then stopped or was interrupted by another event. For example, "The company's profits had been declining before the new CEO took over".