had been lacking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been lacking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or quality that was absent or insufficient in the past. Example: "The project had been lacking the necessary resources, which delayed its completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But they added what had been lacking too.

Independent

What had been lacking was a leader the House of Commons could unite behind.

The Guardian

She had been lacking in motherly inhibitions and propriety and self-control.

The New Yorker

Phau's serve, which had been lacking in the early rounds, was dominant in the first set.

The New York Times - Sports

Some said Ms. Wexler gave the administration a measure of political skill it had been lacking.

The New York Times

Four galvanized the New York comedy scene: they introduced an "organizing principle that had been lacking".

The New Yorker

More important, Taurasi smiled and played with a boldness that had been lacking recently.

The New York Times - Sports

A defensive intensity that had been lacking Saturday was evident from the opening tap.

The New York Times - Sports

That brought the Wallabies tries, something they had been lacking up until Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

The report found that training for immigration officers on the new guidelines had been lacking.

The New York Times

It also offers what the Rockaways had been lacking: a place to spend the night.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been lacking" to clearly indicate that something was absent or insufficient up to a specific point in the past. This helps establish a clear timeline and context for your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "had been lacking" when referring to current or future states. Ensure the context clearly indicates a past situation where something was missing or inadequate. For current states, consider using "is lacking" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been lacking" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It typically follows a subject and describes something that was absent or insufficient up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been lacking" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that was absent or insufficient up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "was previously absent" or "had been missing" can be used for semantic variation. Remember to maintain clarity and context for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was previously absent

Focuses on the absence of something up to a point in the past.

had been missing

Emphasizes the absence of something that was expected or needed.

had been deficient

Highlights the inadequacy or incompleteness of something.

had been insufficient

Stresses that something was not enough or adequate.

had been wanting

Indicates that something was not up to par or of the required quality.

had been inadequate

Similar to 'insufficient' but can also imply a lower standard.

had been devoid of

Implies a complete absence of something.

had been without

Simply states the absence of something.

failed to include

Focuses on the act of omission.

was conspicuously absent

Highlights that the absence was very noticeable.

FAQs

How do I use "had been lacking" in a sentence?

Use "had been lacking" to describe something that was absent or insufficient until a specific point in the past. For example, "The project had been lacking the necessary resources, which delayed its completion."

What are some alternatives to "had been lacking"?

You can use alternatives like "was previously absent", "had been missing", or "had been deficient" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been lacking" or "was lacking"?

"Had been lacking" refers to a past state that has changed, while "was lacking" can refer to a state that existed at a specific time in the past or that still exists. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

Is it redundant to say "had been lacking until"?

While not strictly redundant, "had been lacking until" can often be simplified by rephrasing the sentence to avoid the explicit "until". For example, instead of "The feature had been lacking until the update", consider "The feature was added in the update".