had been knowing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been knowing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate something that was known at the time of speaking/writing. Example: He had been knowing about the hidden documents for months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Tariq ur Rehman, 39, and Abdul Wahab Khan, 27, lost appeals to return to the UK, with the court ruling they had been knowing participants.

The Guardian

"We sat and talked as if we had been knowing each other for years.

Huffington Post

These responses were rated in terms of how effective the implied communication had been, knowing the communicative intent.

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I've been knowing her since I was a itty-bitty little person," Ms. Davis said.

The New York Times

There could have been knowing fish-out-of-water incidents and insightful, funny portrayals of the young and privileged.

The New York Times - Arts

"You gotta have a house to put the Christmas tree and presents in," Sherrena told her. "You've been knowing Christmas was coming eleven months ago".

The New Yorker

She reflected, "I'm very happy to be living at a time of my life that I can compare all the different medias I've been knowing".

The New Yorker

"My greatest gift," she said, "has been knowing that my two children have been tested, and miraculously they're both negative" for the gene that causes the malformation.

The New York Times - Health

Asked to look back on what might have provided an alternative, Ms. Davis said it probably would not have been knowing she could take the baby somewhere without fear of prosecution.

The New York Times

A newly disclosed letter suggests that in 1993 the city was asked to investigate whether not only tax assessors and tax consultants, but also prominent tax lawyers and -- by extension -- owners may have been knowing participants in the scandal.

The New York Times

The ugly ruins of the administration block lie just a few metres from Dos Rios beach, yet another beautifulempty expanse, a reminder of how much harder life behind bars must have been knowing what lay just beyond the prison walls.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been knowing", ensure the context emphasizes a continuous state of awareness or knowledge over a period of time in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been knowing" when a simple past perfect tense ("had known") suffices. Overuse of the continuous aspect can make your writing sound awkward and unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been knowing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action or state of knowing that was ongoing before another point in the past. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and provides examples to illustrate its usage, though it's relatively uncommon.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been knowing" is grammatically correct but relatively rare. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, emphasizing the continuous nature of knowledge before a past event. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use it, simpler alternatives such as "had known" are generally preferred for clarity. When writing, be mindful of overusing continuous tenses; ensure that the prolonged aspect of knowing is essential to the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had known

Simplifies the tense, focusing on the state of knowing in the past without the continuous aspect.

were aware

Replaces "knowing" with a more common synonym, emphasizing awareness.

had knowledge of

Substitutes "knowing" with a more formal expression, emphasizing possession of knowledge.

had been informed

Shifts focus to the act of being told, rather than the state of knowing.

had realized

Implies a moment of understanding, rather than a continuous state of knowing.

had understood

Focuses on comprehension rather than just awareness.

had discovered

Suggests finding out something previously unknown.

had learned

Emphasizes the process of acquiring knowledge.

were conscious of

Emphasizes a state of active awareness.

had been privy to

Suggests being part of a select group with inside information.

FAQs

What does "had been knowing" mean?

The phrase "had been knowing" indicates a state of continuous awareness or knowledge that existed over a period in the past before another past event or time.

Is "had been knowing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had been knowing" is grammatically correct, but it is less common than simpler alternatives like "had known".

What can I say instead of "had been knowing"?

You can use alternatives like "had known", "were aware", or "had knowledge of", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "had been knowing"?

Use "had been knowing" when you want to emphasize the duration or continuous nature of the knowledge in the past, prior to another point in the past. However, ensure that this continuous aspect is indeed what you intend to convey, as it's less common than the simple past perfect.