had been getting ready

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been getting ready" 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 occurred. Example: "She had been getting ready for the party when she realized she had forgotten her dress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Melbourne had been getting ready for some time for the AIDS 2014 conference.

The Guardian

Robert L. Campbell, the mayor of Crawford, population 705, had been getting ready to mow his lawn when he heard about the climbers.

The New York Times

Somer Neumann, a senior at Austin Peay State University here, had been getting ready for the biggest night of her life.

The New York Times

The couple had been getting ready to take their annual trip to Vermont, were sprucing up their home in Flushing, N.Y., and had just bought a puppy.

The New York Times

"I thought they were not valuable at the time (they had a face value of only £10) so I just tucked them away with a bunch of other official papers – my wife and I had been getting ready to emigrate to Australia at the time.

The Guardian - Money

I didn't feel they played to their best in any of the three games, far from it, and they had been getting ready for this tournament for a long time.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

They've been getting ready for years".

The New York Times - Sports

Israel has been getting ready for war with Hezbollah, too.

The New Yorker

"Usually, I would have been getting ready since December.

The New Yorker

Fiorilli said: "We've been getting ready since February.

The New York Times

We have been getting ready for these games for a long time.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been getting ready" to describe a continuous preparation process leading up to a specific event or time in the past. This emphasizes the duration and effort involved in preparing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been getting ready" when a simple past tense form is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect continuous can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. Use simple past tense when describing a completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been getting ready" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action or point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been getting ready" is a past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe a prolonged preparation before a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in a variety of contexts, primarily in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure you’re highlighting both the continuous effort of preparing and its completion before another past event. Alternatives such as "had been preparing" or "had been gearing up" can provide nuanced emphasis on different aspects of the preparation process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been preparing

Focuses on the act of making something ready, often through specific actions.

had been gearing up

Implies an increase in effort or intensity in preparation.

had been making preparations

Highlights the act of creating arrangements or plans for something.

had been arranging

Emphasizes the organizational aspect of getting ready.

had been setting up

Focuses on the act of establishing the necessary infrastructure or conditions.

had been equipping oneself

Highlights providing necessary resources.

had been training

Suggests a focus on physical or mental preparation for a specific event.

had been practicing

Indicates repeated performance to improve skill or readiness.

had been rehearsing

Implies a more formal or theatrical preparation.

had been anticipating

Focuses on the mental preparation and expectation of a future event.

FAQs

How can I use "had been getting ready" in a sentence?

Use "had been getting ready" to describe a continuous action of preparation that occurred before a specific point in the past. For example, "She "had been getting ready" for the interview all week, so she felt confident."

What are some alternatives to "had been getting ready"?

You can use alternatives like "had been preparing", "had been gearing up", or "had been making preparations" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "was getting ready" and "had been getting ready"?

"Was getting ready" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "Had been getting ready" describes an action that started in the past and continued until a later point in the past. The latter emphasizes the duration of the preparation before another event occurred.

Is it correct to say "have been getting ready" instead of "had been getting ready"?

The choice depends on the timeline. "Have been getting ready" indicates preparation leading up to the present moment, while "had been getting ready" refers to preparation completed before a point in the past.