had been keeping

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been keeping" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use "had been keeping" when you are describing an action that had started in the past and was continuing until some point in the past. For example: "I had been keeping a journal for 10 years until I stopped last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The CBO-project was finished and the database we had been keeping ended and of course it's really intensive work to keep that up.

BMC Health Services Research

She had been keeping track.

The New Yorker

Except that he had been keeping it all under wraps.

The Guardian - Sport

It was as if I had been keeping a secret.

The Guardian - Books

An Israeli astronaut aboard the Columbia, Col. Ilan Ramon, had been keeping kosher during the voyage, and Jack Marcus, 37, had been keeping track of his trip.

The New York Times

They had been keeping him up to date about events at the company.

The New York Times

Witnesses had been keeping quiet until they found out whether they would have to testify again.

The New York Times

Law enforcement officials had been keeping tabs on them for nearly four years.

The New York Times

Despite his injury, Stewart said he had been keeping busy with the Stewart-Haas racing business.

The New York Times

Like other search engines, Bing had been keeping user data for more than 18 months.

The New York Times - Tech

Mrs. Freeport, an Englishwoman had been keeping a pension on the Italian Riviera for 13 years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been keeping", ensure the timeline is clear. Specify the start and end points of the action to avoid ambiguity. For example, "She "had been keeping" a secret for years before finally revealing it."

Common error

Avoid using "had been keeping" without establishing a clear reference point in the past. The past perfect continuous tense needs a defined period; otherwise, it can confuse the reader. For example, instead of saying "He "had been keeping" it", specify "He "had been keeping" it secret since the accident".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "had been keeping" is to form the past perfect continuous tense of the verb "keep". It indicates an action that was in progress before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been keeping" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an action that was ongoing before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability across various contexts. As demonstrated by the examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase frequently appears in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" contexts, highlighting its neutral register. When using "had been keeping", ensure that the timeline is clearly established, and consider alternatives like "had maintained" or "had preserved" for subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had maintained

Focuses more on sustained effort in keeping something in a particular state.

had preserved

Emphasizes the act of saving or protecting something from decay or harm.

had retained

Implies that something was held or kept within one's possession.

had held onto

Suggests a firm grip or unwillingness to let go of something, physical or abstract.

had possessed

Highlights ownership or control over something, whether tangible or intangible.

had stored

Indicates that something was kept in a specific place for future use.

had watched over

Implies careful observation and protection, often with a nurturing aspect.

had guarded

Focuses on protecting something from harm or unauthorized access.

had concealed

Emphasizes keeping something secret or hidden from view.

had amassed

Implies gradual collection or accumulation of something over time.

FAQs

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

Use "had been keeping" to describe an action that started in the past, continued for a period, and ended before another point in the past. For instance, "They "had been keeping" the secret until she revealed it."

What are some alternatives to "had been keeping"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had maintained", "had preserved", or "had retained".

What is the difference between "had been keeping" and "had kept"?

"Had been keeping" (past perfect continuous) emphasizes the duration of the action, while "had kept" (past perfect simple) emphasizes the completion of the action before another point in the past. For example, "She "had been keeping" the books meticulously" versus "She "had kept" the books safely".

Is "had been keeping" formal or informal?

"Had been keeping" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality is mainly determined by the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure rather than the phrase itself.