had been occurring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been occurring" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action or event that was happening continuously or repeatedly in the past before another action took place. Example: "The issues had been occurring for several months before the management decided to take action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The elongations of Mercury had been occurring every 350 days.

Britannica

Her troubles against Terran had been occurring in the middle to late ranges of games.

The New Yorker

We realized this mechanism had been occurring for years at University's startup competitions, such as the MIT 100K Accelerate Contest.

University of California, Berkeley

It concluded, therefore, that Trussell's claim did not accurately reflect what had been occurring in its food banks.

The Guardian

The size of the overstatement was unclear, but the company said it had been occurring for several years.

The New York Times

They smoke marijuana in public.' Anne Longfield said regeneration in deprived areas had been occurring for decades, but the focus was on buildings and roads.

The Guardian

In January 2008, health authorities in the United States beganreceiving reports of clusters of acute hypersensitivity reactionsin patients undergoing dialysis that had been occurring sinceNovember 2007.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

And these declines have been occurring nationwide.

The New York Times

They have been occurring on a smaller scale for years.

The Guardian

Important changes have been occurring in Israel in recent days.

The New York Times

Extensive re-hanging has been occurring in the Asian Galleries.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been occurring" to clearly indicate that an event or situation was in progress continuously or repeatedly before a specific point in the past. This helps establish a timeline of events for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been occurring" to describe a single, completed event in the past. This phrase is best suited for actions that were ongoing or repetitive. For single events, use the past perfect tense, like "had occurred".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been occurring" functions as the past perfect continuous tense of the verb "occur". It's used to describe an action or event that was in progress over a period of time before another point in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been occurring" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past before another specified time. According to Ludwig, its use is appropriate across various registers, with a leaning towards news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. Remember to use this phrase to clarify timelines and provide context, ensuring not to misuse it for single, completed events. The varied examples demonstrate its broad applicability in conveying nuanced historical information. This alligns with Ludwig AI, which demonstrates the correctness of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had developed

Focuses on the growth or evolution of something over time.

had taken place

This alternative focuses on the event happening in a specific location or setting.

had been underway

This phrase highlights that a process or activity was in progress.

had evolved

This alternative emphasizes a gradual change or transformation over a period of time.

had been transpiring

Similar to "had transpired", but emphasizes the unfolding or becoming known of events.

had unfolded

This alternative suggests a gradual revelation or unfolding of events, often with dramatic or surprising elements.

had transpired

This alternative replaces "occurring" with a word that suggests events have taken place, often with a sense of mystery or unfolding.

had come to pass

This phrase conveys that something has happened or been fulfilled, often with a sense of inevitability or destiny.

had been brewing

Suggests that something had been developing or intensifying, often secretly or gradually.

had materialized

This option emphasizes the event becoming real or concrete, often after a period of planning or anticipation.

FAQs

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

Use "had been occurring" to describe an action that was ongoing or repeatedly happening before another event in the past. For example, "The errors "had been occurring" for weeks before they were noticed".

What's a simple alternative to "had been occurring"?

A straightforward alternative is "had happened", though this may not always capture the sense of continuous or repeated action.

Is there a difference between "had been occurring" and "had occurred"?

"Had been occurring" implies a continuous or repeated action, whereas "had occurred" suggests a completed single event. For instance, "The meetings "had been occurring" weekly" versus "The accident had occurred suddenly".

When is it appropriate to use "had been occurring" instead of "was occurring"?

Use "had been occurring" when you need to establish a sequence of past events, where one event was in progress before another. "Was occurring" describes an action happening at a specific point in the past, without necessarily linking it to another past event.