had been indicating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been indicating" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past and has relevance to a later point in time. Example: "The data had been indicating a steady increase in sales over the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

For a while Coltrane had been indicating that harmony alone intrigued him less and that he wanted to stop playing the same tunes ad nauseam.

The New York Times

Preston said her e-mail had been indicating a groundswell of opposition from everyday people with "a reasonable position, passionately expressed".

The New York Times

The polls had been indicating that Labour would lose, the Tories would be ahead, and that David Cameron was very likely to be prime minister but without a majority.

The Guardian - Opinion

The polls had been indicating the billionaire was on course to win Iowa, and there was a growing sense that if he could pull off a victory in such a rural, evangelical state, he could become unstoppable.

The Guardian

The abruptness of the fall seemed to indicate that despite the fact that polls had been indicating for some time that President Obama was likely to win, that expectation was not shared by many financiers.

The New York Times

Once we reached cruising altitude, the pilot made a long announcement explaining that his computer had been indicating a problem with the hydraulic brake system and that after running some tests, he had decided it was O.K., that the problem was caused by a computer anomaly, not the brakes.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

In other words, the presence of positive selection had been indicated in this comparison.

Plosone

Since this study started, relatively low dose of doxifluridine had been indicated by several participating investigators.

British Journal of Cancer

For this reason, smoothened homologue (Smo) protein had been indicated as the drug target.

BioMed Research International

*Does not total 100% as more than one response had been indicated by some participants.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The chair of the work and pensions committee may have been indicating that such a proposal would be technically problematic.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been indicating" to describe a trend or pattern observed over a period of time that suggests a future outcome or condition. This emphasizes the duration and consistency of the signal.

Common error

Avoid using "had been indicating" when referring to a single, isolated event. This phrase implies a continuous or repeated action over time, not a one-time occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been indicating" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It signifies an action that was ongoing in the past and had relevance to a later point in time. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where a trend or pattern was observable over time before a specific event or realization.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been indicating" is a past perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe a sustained action in the past that foreshadows or explains a later event. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically correct and versatile, appearing most frequently in news and media, and is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. When using "had been indicating", ensure you're referring to a continuous action over time, not a single event, and consider alternatives like "had suggested" or "had pointed to" to subtly alter the emphasis of your message. Overall, this phrase provides a valuable way to establish context and provide justification for the events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had suggested

Focuses more on the act of suggesting, implying a less direct form of communication or signal.

had pointed to

Emphasizes direction or focus, implying a clear indication towards a specific conclusion.

had signaled

Highlights the act of sending a signal, which could be intentional or unintentional.

had hinted at

Implies a subtle or indirect suggestion, often requiring interpretation to understand the full meaning.

had implied

Focuses on indirect communication where the meaning is conveyed without being explicitly stated.

had given the impression

Highlights the perception created, rather than the direct action of indicating.

had led to believe

Emphasizes the resulting belief or understanding that was formed based on the prior indications.

had foreshadowed

Implies a predictive element, suggesting that the earlier indications hinted at a future event or outcome.

had presaged

A more formal and literary term suggesting a prophetic or ominous indication of future events.

had been a harbinger of

Indicates that something was a sign or omen of a future event, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

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

Use "had been indicating" to describe something that served as a signal or sign in the past. For example, "The polls "had been indicating" that Labour would lose".

What are some alternatives to "had been indicating"?

Some alternatives include "had suggested", "had pointed to", or "had signaled". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Was indicating" suggests a more immediate or ongoing action at a specific point in the past, while "had been indicating" emphasizes a continuous action over a period of time that led to a particular outcome or understanding. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "had been indicating" and "indicated"?

"Indicated" implies a simple past action, whereas "had been indicating" describes a past action that occurred over a period of time and has relevance to a later point in time. "The sensors "had been indicating" a change for some time" suggests a prolonged period of signaling, versus "The sensor indicated a change".