had been establishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been establishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past before another action took place. Example: "By the time the new policy was implemented, the committee had been establishing guidelines for over a year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

While the Creative Society had been "establishing itself as a successful and sustainable social enterprise, the banking sector has seen a significant amount of change requiring us to review all of our special charging arrangements".

The Guardian

Dealers on the table clearly knew him — he had been establishing his presence here for the past week, getting used to the game and figuring out its subtleties — and they good-naturedly commiserated with him over his propensity for losing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Niebling, who was 29, was flying to Kabul from Herat, where her agency, Management Sciences for Health in Cambridge, Mass., had been establishing a clinic.That night, he saw a headline on an online news site".An airliner in Afghanistan was missing," said Mr. Meeks, now 35.He immediately feared the worst".My stomach dropped," he recalled".I felt like I got punched.I knew.I just knew".

The New York Times

This game did not come out of nowhere either, as Doyle had been establishing a rapport with the quarterback for quite some time.

Forbes

Here the left-most company had been establishing a number of posts in the open fields.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The electrical connection had been established.

The New York Times

Central Park West had been established about 1890.

The New York Times

Our territory had been established.

The New York Times

A new diplomatic precedent had been established.

The New Yorker

But the tone had been established.

The New York Times - Sports

A certain tone had been established.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been establishing" to describe a continuous action that was in progress before another event occurred. For instance, "The company had been establishing its market presence before the new competitor arrived."

Common error

Avoid using "had been establishing" when referring to a single, completed action in the past. This phrase highlights continuous action, so ensure the context reflects that. Instead of "They had been establishing the connection", consider "They established the connection" if the action was a one-time event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been establishing" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another event or time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically correct and suitable for describing such scenarios.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been establishing" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense, used to describe an action that was in progress before another event in the past. According to Ludwig AI, its use is appropriate and well-regarded. While relatively rare in overall frequency, it appears most often in news and media contexts. Understanding its function and purpose allows for more precise and nuanced communication, especially when emphasizing the duration of a past action. Remember to avoid using it for single, completed past actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been creating

Focuses on the act of bringing something new into existence over a period.

had been developing

Emphasizes the process of gradual growth and improvement.

had been building

Highlights the construction or assembly of something over time.

had been forming

Implies the shaping or molding of something into a particular form.

had been setting up

Suggests arranging or organizing something for a specific purpose.

had been instituting

Focuses on the formal establishment of a rule, system, or policy.

had been pioneering

Emphasizes the act of initiating or leading the way in a new field or endeavor.

had been constructing

Highlights the creation of something tangible over time.

had been originating

Focuses on the beginning or starting point of something.

had been initiating

Emphasizes the start or commencement of a process or activity.

FAQs

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

Use "had been establishing" to describe an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action took place. For example, "The team "had been establishing" a strong foundation before the project's official launch".

What are some alternatives to "had been establishing"?

Alternatives include phrases like "had been creating", "had been developing", or "had been building", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "had been establish" instead of "had been establishing"?

No, "had been establish" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form for the past perfect continuous tense is "had been establishing", which uses the present participle (establishing) to indicate ongoing action.

What is the difference between "had been establishing" and "had established"?

"Had been establishing" implies a continuous action in the past that occurred before another event, while "had established" implies a completed action. For example, "They "had been establishing" relationships before the merger" versus "They "had established" a new company last year".