had been expecting for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been expecting for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when discussing a past expectation, but it should be followed by a noun or a gerund, not "for." Example: "I had been expecting the results to be announced soon."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Some days later came the intervention which, deep down, I had been expecting for months.

Independent

This was the storm that every native Floridian had been expecting for 30 years, the one that would prove the folly of extensive mobile home developments.

The New York Times

But I was fascinated by the conversation because it seemed to me to be the first hint of a phenomenon I had been expecting for some time: let's call it coalition nostalgia.

The Guardian - Opinion

A SHOWDOWN that Madison Avenue had been expecting for years is finally getting under way as United Airlines pits its two agencies against each other for the company's worldwide account.

The New York Times

The firm also said that its results will be much worse than Wall Street had been expecting for at least the next year.In this section The once and future mall Friend of Bill The downpour in Asia Chips on their shoulders The harder they fall Africa's Hollywood But in the physical world . . .

The Economist

[World Business, Section W.] United Airlines Sets Up Showdown A showdown that Madison Avenue had been expecting for years is getting under way as United Airlines pits its two agencies -- Fallon Worldwide and Young & Rubicam Advertising -- against each other for its worldwide account.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It had been expected for months.

Independent

The deal had been expected for weeks.

The New York Times

The release had been expected for several weeks.

The New York Times

The move had been expected for quite some time.

The Washington Post

The decision had been expected for some time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "had been expecting for" in formal writing. Instead, use alternatives like "had expected", "had been anticipating", or "had been looking forward to" followed by a suitable object or clause.

Common error

A common mistake is to incorrectly pair "expecting" with the preposition "for". Instead, ensure that "expecting" is followed by a direct object or, if expressing anticipation towards something, use "looking forward to" or "anticipating".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been expecting for" functions as part of a verb phrase intended to express anticipation or expectation in the past. However, the addition of "for" is grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig. The correct form would typically omit "for" or use a different preposition depending on the context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been expecting for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as flawed. While it appears in some sources, "for" is superfluous. Correct alternatives include "had expected", "had been anticipating", or "had been looking forward to", with the choice depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in formal or professional writing, avoid "had been expecting for" and opt for its more accepted counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had expected

Uses the simple past perfect tense, omitting "been" and "for".

had been anticipating

Focuses on foreseeing or predicting an event, omitting the "for".

had anticipated that

Introduces a 'that' clause to correctly structure the expectation

had been awaiting

Emphasizes waiting with a sense of readiness, without the "for".

had been looking forward to

Highlights a positive expectation and eagerness, correctly using "to".

had foreseen

Implies predicting something in advance, excluding "expecting" and "for".

had presumed

Implies an assumption or belief beforehand, is a more formal option.

had been prepared for

Stresses readiness for an event, rather than actively expecting it, keeps "for".

had bargained for

Indicates anticipating certain consequences or results, focusing on the outcome and keeps "for".

had been counting on

Highlights reliance on something happening, keeping "on" instead of "for".

FAQs

What's the correct way to phrase an expectation in the past perfect continuous tense?

Instead of "had been expecting for", use "had been expecting" followed by a noun or clause, or use "had been looking forward to" followed by a noun phrase or gerund. For example, "I had been expecting a promotion" or "I had been looking forward to the party".

What can I use instead of "had been expecting for" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "had expected", "had been anticipating", or "had been looking forward to" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "had been expecting for"?

No, "had been expecting for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves either omitting the "for" and following "expecting" with a direct object, or using a different construction altogether such as "looking forward to".

How does "had been expecting" differ from "had been looking forward to"?

"Had been expecting" generally implies a neutral anticipation, while "had been looking forward to" suggests a positive anticipation and eagerness. Both should be followed by a noun or a gerund, not the preposition "for".