had been including

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been including" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past and may have continued up to a certain point. Example: "For several years, the committee had been including various community members in their discussions to ensure diverse perspectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He pointed out that the figures being used to compare miners' pay with that of other workers were flawed, because the National Coal Board had been including holiday pay in the miners' earnings, while the other figures had not.

The Guardian

"Twenty years down the line, people will look back at it and say, 'What took them so long?' " The authority, at the prodding of appointees by Mr. Brown, issued what was, by all accounts, a report on the railroad that was more realistic than previous ones had been, including the higher cost and lower ridership projections.

The New York Times

Your obituary of David Layton (30 September) credits him with pointing out, in the middle of the miners' strike in February 1974, that the figures being used to compare miners' pay with that of other workers were flawed, because the National Coal Board had been including holiday pay in miners' earnings while other employers had not.

The Guardian

Google Chief Accountant Brent Callinicos said that analysts had been including results for Motorola Home in their profit and sales estimates for 2012, but those figures would be pulled out of the overall figures, and accounted for as "discontinued operations".

TechCrunch

In fact, the biggest shakeup in the Democratic field happened when one man decided not to run, since all the polls had been including Joe Biden's name for months.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I wish more of these sketches had been included here.

The New York Times

Barclays said a confidentiality clause had been included "in error".

BBC

This association might be lower if memantine had been included.

BMC Health Services Research

After six participants had been included, the procedure started again.

Cephalalgia

None of the tumours had been included in previous studies.

British Journal of Cancer

"Animators have been including social responsibility for decades.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been including" to describe an action that started in the past and continued for a period of time before another point in the past. This helps to establish a sequence of events clearly.

Common error

Avoid using "had been including" when the simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, don't say "They had been including the data yesterday" when "They included the data yesterday" is clearer and more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been including" serves as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was ongoing over a period of time leading up to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been including" is a grammatically correct past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe an action that was ongoing over a period of time before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, and less commonly in Encyclopedias, Wikis, or References. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately conveys an action's continuity before another event, and avoid confusing it with the simple past tense or past continuous tense. Alternatives such as "had incorporated" or "had featured" may be appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had incorporated

Emphasizes the act of integrating something into a larger whole over time.

had integrated

Similar to 'had incorporated', but suggests a more seamless blending of elements.

had featured

Highlights the act of showcasing or presenting something as part of a larger display or selection.

had encompassed

Indicates that something was included within a larger scope or range.

had comprised

Focuses on the elements that made up a whole, suggesting a historical inclusion.

had involved

Highlights the participation or engagement of something in an ongoing process.

had adopted

Suggests the active choice and integration of something new into existing practices.

had employed

Focuses on the use of something as a tool or method over a period of time.

had utilized

Similar to 'had employed', but often implies a more efficient or resourceful use.

had considered

Emphasizes the act of taking something into account, potentially leading to inclusion or integration.

FAQs

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

Use "had been including" to describe a continuous action in the past that occurred before another event. For instance, "The report showed that the company "had been including" outdated data before the audit."

What are some alternatives to "had been including"?

Alternatives include phrases like "had incorporated", "had integrated", or "had featured", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was including" instead of "had been including"?

While "was including" can also describe a past action, "had been including" emphasizes that the action occurred over a period of time before another event in the past. "Was including" simply indicates the action was in progress at some point in the past.

What's the difference between "had included" and "had been including"?

"Had included" implies a completed action in the past, whereas ""had been including"" suggests a continuous action up to a certain point in the past. For example, "They had included the clause" means they finished adding it, while "They "had been including" the clause for years" emphasizes its continuous presence.