had been incurring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been incurring" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or situation that occurred in the past, often related to costs or debts that have accumulated over time. Example: "The company had been incurring significant losses due to the economic downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At that time, it had largely completed the privatization of state-owned copper mines that had been incurring huge losses even as they provided the country's sole source of foreign exchange and had come to be seen as a font of patronage.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The debts had been incurred by more than two thousand students.

The New Yorker

Sinodinos said the costs had been incurred before he arrived.

The Guardian

The court was satisfied that the costs had been incurred by the activists "as a result of an improper omission by the CPS".

The Guardian

But in February, Mr Justice Sales said a "range of expenses" had been incurred and the estate's value had been reduced to about £3.3m.

The Guardian

Some costs had been incurred to cover fees for advisers who led discussions with the Cypriot authorities and to handle legal transfers.

The Guardian

In spite of pre-publication inquiries, after publication, we were provided with additional information about why that expenditure had been incurred.

The Guardian

Cooper denied that any loss had been incurred by any individuals or employees and disputed the prosecution's narrative of events.

The Guardian

However, it said the couple's comments suggested "additional costs had been incurred because of ill-considered or reckless decisions and lack of planning".

The Guardian

The MoD said that if any further costs had been incurred as a result of the training programme they would be announced "in due course".

The Guardian

The judge stayed a lawsuit that contended the county's sewer debt had been incurred unconstitutionally and needed to be written down more than the new deal proposes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been incurring" to describe a situation in the past where costs, debts, or losses were accumulating over a period of time. Ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe and the nature of what was being incurred.

Common error

Avoid using "had been incurring" when referring to a single, isolated event in the past. The phrase implies a continuous or repeated action, so use a simple past tense like "incurred" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been incurring" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. According to Ludwig AI, it describes an ongoing action or situation related to costs or debts that were accumulating over a period in the past. It indicates that something was happening repeatedly or continuously before a specific point in the past.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

33%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been incurring" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the accumulation of costs, debts, or losses over a period in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, emphasizing its role in describing ongoing actions related to accumulating financial burdens. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts and holds a neutral register. Remember to consider the specific time frame when choosing between "had been incurring" and similar phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been accumulating

Focuses on the gradual increase of something, similar to incurring but emphasizes accumulation.

had been experiencing

Emphasizes the process of undergoing something, often negative, like losses or costs.

had been facing

Highlights the confrontation with difficulties or expenses over a period.

had sustained

Implies a more significant or impactful experience of loss or damage.

had undergone

Focuses on the process of going through a particular experience, often involving change or difficulty.

had run up

Suggests the accumulation of debt or costs, often implying a careless or rapid increase.

had been burdened with

Highlights the negative impact of accumulating costs or debts, suggesting a heavy load.

had become liable for

Focuses on the legal or financial responsibility for incurred costs or debts.

had become subject to

Indicates that something was inevitably going to happen or take place.

had drawn

Implies losses were attracted to a company/project/etc over a given period

FAQs

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

Use "had been incurring" to describe costs or debts that were accumulating over a period in the past. For example: "The company "had been incurring" heavy losses before the new management took over."

What are some alternatives to "had been incurring"?

You can use alternatives like "had been accumulating", "had been experiencing", or "had been facing" depending on the specific context.

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

The choice depends on the time frame you're referencing. "Has been incurring" refers to a process that started in the past and continues to the present, whereas "had been incurring" refers to a process that occurred over a period entirely in the past.

What is the difference between "incurred" and "had been incurring"?

"Incurred" refers to a single event where a cost or debt was acquired, while "had been incurring" describes a continuous process of accumulating costs or debts over a period in the past.