had been noticing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been noticing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or observation that occurred in the past before another past event. Example: "She had been noticing strange behavior from her colleague before the incident happened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

This explained many things about Carol that he had been noticing, and he wondered how it had started.

The New Yorker

At that moment, I lost my tolerance for what I had been noticing for days now, and I got up to take the kids back to school.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Doctors had been noticing for years that weight-loss operations, also called bariatric surgery, could sometimes get rid of Type 2 diabetes.

The New York Times - Science

People had been noticing that Blair's personal poll ratings were tumbling and predicting that he would need Brown's help to win the 2005 election - as indeed he did.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Kirk Wessler, the sports columnist at The Peoria Journal Star, said Friday that he had been noticing White Sox paraphernalia around town.

The New York Times

Throughout 1997, Mr. Ratchik had been noticing a certain kind-faced girl with big brown eyes as they both waited for the No. 6 train.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Like a minnow who had been noticed by Melville.

The New Yorker

Joe's writing skills had been noticed.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Specific MMPs had been noticed to be overly expressed in human ligamentum flavum [ 24].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Negative attitudes and behaviors of the perpetrator had been noticed in the past.

Clinical interventions in aging

This sweet taste had been noticed in the urine by the ancient Greeks.

Cell Death and Disease

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "had been noticing" with sensory details to create vivid descriptions of what was being observed, enhancing the reader's experience and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using simple past tense ("noticed") when the action of noticing occurred over a period of time before another event. Using "had been noticing" correctly conveys this duration and sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been noticing" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It typically describes an action of observing or becoming aware of something over a period of time before another event in the past, as showcased by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been noticing" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense used to describe a prolonged act of observation leading up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig's analysis and the provided examples confirm its grammatical correctness and wide applicability, particularly in news, academic, and scientific contexts. The phrase serves to emphasize the gradual awareness or unfolding of a situation, setting the stage for subsequent events. While generally neutral in register, its precise usage distinguishes it from the simple past tense, ensuring clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had become aware of

Emphasizes the process of gaining awareness over time.

had observed

Uses a more formal verb to indicate observation, replacing the continuous tense with a simple past tense.

had noted

Implies a more deliberate or recorded observation.

had taken note of

Highlights that the observer made a conscious decision to pay attention.

had detected

Suggests discovering something not immediately obvious.

had perceived

Highlights a subjective or sensory observation.

was starting to notice

Shifts the focus to the beginning of the noticing process.

had recognized

Indicates an understanding or identification of something previously unknown.

had spotted

Implies a quick or chance observation.

had seen

Offers a more direct and simple way to express the act of noticing.

FAQs

How is "had been noticing" used in a sentence?

Use "had been noticing" to describe an ongoing observation in the past before another past action or event. For example, "She "had been noticing" the signs of a storm before it started raining."

What are some alternatives to "had been noticing"?

You can use alternatives such as "had observed", "had noted", or "had become aware of" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "had been noticing" and "noticed"?

"Had been noticing" implies a continuous or repeated observation over a period of time in the past. "Noticed" is a simple past tense indicating a single instance of becoming aware of something. For example, "I "had been noticing" his strange behavior all week" versus "I "noticed" the broken window."

Is it ever incorrect to use "had been noticing"?

It would be incorrect to use "had been noticing" if the observation was a one-time event and not continuous. In such cases, the simple past tense "noticed" would be more appropriate.