had been maintaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been maintaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or state that was happening before a certain point in the past. Example: "She had been maintaining her fitness routine for several years before she decided to take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

She also increased her wholesale operations and had been maintaining a showroom in New York.

The New York Times

Not so long ago he had been maintaining that the moderates were still a real force.

Independent

Last year grain prices resumed the downward trend they had been maintaining over many decades.

The Economist

The Seahawks running back had been maintaining his silence all season, but word only just got back to league headquarters.

The Guardian - Sport

Kodak, facing fierce competition from overseas and suffering from disastrous forays into new businesses, had been maintaining what many called a bloated bureaucracy.

The New York Times

Though Mr. Cheney has broad support within his party, he made his declaration that he wanted to stay on with what seemed like a new assertiveness that caught Washington's attention -- striking because he had been maintaining such a low profile.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Patients had been maintained one to two times yearly.

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

His independence and dignity had been maintained.

Huffington Post

This confirms CR had been maintained.

BMC Gastroenterology

These lines had been maintained by selfing for multiple generations.

BMC Plant Biology

"I've been maintaining a positive attitude," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been maintaining" to describe actions or states that were ongoing before a specific point in the past. For example, "The company had been maintaining steady growth prior to the economic downturn."

Common error

Avoid using "had been maintaining" when referring to present actions. Use present perfect continuous (has/have been maintaining) for ongoing actions that started in the past and continue to the present. For example, "She has been maintaining a healthy diet for years."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been maintaining" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that was in progress over a period of time that ended before another action or time in the past. This is supported by Ludwig AI which confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been maintaining" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action or state before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this, and it is commonly found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and consider alternatives like "had been preserving" or "had been sustaining" for nuanced expression. Avoid using it for present actions or states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been preserving

This alternative emphasizes the act of keeping something intact or unchanged over time.

had been upholding

This alternative suggests actively supporting or defending something over a period.

had been sustaining

This alternative focuses on providing what is needed for something to continue or thrive.

had been keeping up

This alternative implies making an effort to maintain pace or standard over time.

had been continuing

This alternative highlights the uninterrupted nature of an action or state.

had been retaining

This alternative suggests keeping possession of something over a period.

had been conserving

This alternative emphasizes careful use of resources to maintain them over time.

had been administering

This alternative focuses on managing or governing something over a period.

had been safeguarding

This alternative implies protecting something from harm over a period.

had been cultivating

This alternative suggests developing or nurturing something over a period.

FAQs

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

Use "had been maintaining" to describe an action or state that was in progress before another point in the past. For example, "The city "had been maintaining" its infrastructure well before the recent budget cuts."

What are some alternatives to using "had been maintaining"?

You can use alternatives like "had been preserving", "had been upholding", or "had been sustaining" depending on the specific context.

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

The choice between "has been maintaining" and "had been maintaining" depends on the time frame you're referring to. "Has been maintaining" refers to something that started in the past and continues to the present, while "had been maintaining" refers to something that was ongoing before a specific point in the past.

What's the difference between "had been maintaining" and "was maintaining"?

"Was maintaining" describes a continuous action in the past, while "had been maintaining" describes a continuous action that occurred before another point in the past. The latter implies a sequence of past events where one action preceded another.