had been examining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been examining" 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 researchers had been examining the data for several months before they published their findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He began to work with the S.E.C., which had been examining the issue since early 2001.

The New York Times

Brittin told MPs that HMRC had been examining Google's tax affairs since 2009.

The Guardian - Tech

Blackstone had been examining Dell's books as a prelude to making a possible final bid.

The New York Times

Cutcliffe had been examining video of Manning's fundamentals during his interception-plagued 2010 season.

The New York Times - Sports

The Crown Prosecution Service had been examining allegations of sexual misconduct involving the officers who infiltrated political groups.

The Guardian

It had been examining whether he brought the party into disrepute over statements made by himself and his supporters.

The Guardian

The Supreme Court had been examining whether Mr. Foster received adequate counsel during his 2004 trial and subsequent appeal.

The New York Times

Baburova began writing for the newspaper in October and had been examining neo-Nazi groups in Moscow and following court cases involving them, he said.

The Washington Post

For nearly a year, the Whitewater prosecutors had been examining a similar allegation concerning Mr. Jordan and Webster L. Hubbell, the former Associate Attorney General.

The New York Times

The House Judiciary Committee had been examining his acknowledged ties to reputed organized crime figures and allegations that he misused court employees and court contractors.

The New York Times

Gen. Mehdi Sabih Hashem al-Garawi, commander of a paramilitary police unit, said in an interview that his investigators had been examining the company.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been examining" to describe a sustained or repeated action of investigation or inspection that occurred before a specific point in the past. For instance, "The committee had been examining the proposal for months before finally approving it."

Common error

Avoid using "had been examining" when a simple past tense like "examined" would suffice if the action was not continuous or ongoing. For example, instead of "They had been examining the evidence and found a key clue," use "They examined the evidence and found a key clue" if the examination was a single, completed event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been examining" functions as the past perfect continuous tense of the verb "examine". It indicates an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action or point in time in the past. As noted by Ludwig, it describes an action in progress before something else happened.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been examining" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies a continuous action of investigation or scrutiny prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. It's important to use this phrase to describe sustained actions, and avoid using it when a simple past tense would suffice. The phrase is commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, making it suitable for professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had investigated

Focuses more directly on the investigative aspect rather than the process of examining.

had scrutinized

Implies a more detailed and critical inspection.

had analyzed

Highlights the analytical aspect of the examination.

had assessed

Suggests an evaluation or judgment was made based on the examination.

had reviewed

Implies a formal or official examination.

had inspected

Focuses on a physical or visual examination.

had explored

Suggests a broader, less focused examination.

had looked into

A more informal way of saying had investigated.

had studied

Emphasizes the learning or research aspect of the examination.

had considered

Implies a more thoughtful and reflective examination.

FAQs

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

Use "had been examining" to describe a continuous or repeated action of investigation in the past, before another action took place. For example, "The auditors "had been examining" the books for weeks when they discovered the fraud."

What are some alternatives to "had been examining"?

You can use alternatives like "had investigated", "had scrutinized", or "had analyzed" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "had been examining" and "examined"?

"Had been examining" implies a continuous or repeated action in the past, while "examined" suggests a single, completed action. For example, "They "had been examining" the data" suggests a prolonged process, whereas "They examined the data" implies a one-time review.

When is it appropriate to use "had been examining" over "was examining"?

Use "had been examining" when you want to emphasize that the action of examining occurred before another point in time in the past. "Was examining" simply indicates a continuous action in the past without necessarily relating it to another past event.