had been featuring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been featuring" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or state that occurred in the past and continued up to a certain point. Example: "The magazine had been featuring articles on sustainable living for several months before shifting its focus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"What is being highlighted though is that these events occurred at a time when terrorist attacks … had been featuring heavily in the news".

The Guardian

We had been featuring poetic obituaries by the Eye's fictional poet, EJ Thribb, and I thought I would risk ending on this one.

The Guardian

As rock and roll made its way to continental Europe in the late 1950s, several nightclub owners in the red-light district of Hamburg, West Germany the Reeperbahn, named for the street that was its main artery decided that the new music should supplant the jazz they had been featuring.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For months, Teen Vogue — the magazine where she served as beauty director — had been featuring the same young women on its cover: "Rich, pretty, white bloggers in fashion". So she called a meeting.

Los Angeles Times

That's when you know you have arrived". Before the Vogue shoot, Johnson had already made a name for herself at Glamour, which had been featuring black cover models since 1968.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

What would the lyric have been, if he had been featured?

The Economist

They have been featured in bridal magazines.

Princeton University

Her work has been featured in Smithsonian, GQ and Sports Illustrated.

The Washington Post

Fantl has been featured in the Communication Arts Photo Annual.

MIT Technology Review

Both have been featured on U.S. postage stamps.

Princeton University

ActiveClean has been featured in today's "the morning paper".

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past events, use "had been featuring" to illustrate a prolonged period of showcasing or including specific content. For example, "The museum had been featuring local artists for the past year."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence when using "had been featuring". Ensure the rest of the sentence maintains a consistent past perfect or past tense to align with the ongoing nature of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been featuring" serves as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates a state that occurred in the past and continued up to a certain point.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been featuring" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase used to describe a continuous action or state in the past that concluded before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is used to depict a state that occurred in the past. While considered rare based on the limited number of examples, it appears in contexts such as News & Media, Academia, and Encyclopedias. When writing, ensure consistent tense usage and consider alternatives such as "had showcased" or "had highlighted" to provide nuances in meaning. Remembering these considerations helps utilize "had been featuring" effectively in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been showing

Similar meaning but emphasizes the process of showing over time.

had showcased

Focuses more on the act of displaying or presenting prominently.

had been presenting

A more formal alternative emphasizing continuous presentation.

had been highlighting

Focuses on the continuous action of emphasizing particular elements.

had highlighted

Emphasizes drawing attention to specific aspects.

had been exhibiting

Implies a more formal and public display over time.

had presented

A more general term for displaying or offering something.

had been running

Suggests a continuous operation or offering over a period.

had displayed

Focuses on the act of showing something visually.

had included

Indicates the act of containing something as part of a whole.

FAQs

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

Use "had been featuring" to describe something that was continuously presented or showcased over a period that ended in the past. For example, "The website "had been featuring" articles on climate change until they changed their editorial direction."

What are some alternatives to "had been featuring"?

Alternatives include "had showcased", "had highlighted", or "had presented", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been featuring" instead of "had been featuring"?

"Has been featuring" indicates something that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had been featuring" refers to a continuous action that concluded in the past. The correct choice depends on whether the action is ongoing or completed.

What's the difference between "had been featuring" and "featured"?

"Had been featuring" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action over a period in the past. "Featured" simply indicates that something was presented or showcased at some point in the past without emphasizing duration.