had been persecuting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been persecuting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action of persecution that occurred before another past event. Example: "For years, the regime had been persecuting those who opposed its rule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr Dankner said the paper had been persecuting him personally; Haaretz said it was conducting a legitimate campaign against monopolies and the over-concentration of corporate ownership in relatively few hands.Last month Haaretz journalists held a one-day strike as a protest against the impending firings.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Legal activists had said Mr. Li had been persecuted for defending unpopular clients.

The New York Times

He said that he had been persecuted by the Nazis for having a Jewish grandmother.

Independent

While my grandmother may not have worn the piece of cloth, she had been persecuted.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some 300 writers proclaimed their solidarity with authors who had been persecuted or killed.

The New York Times - Books

The revolution of 1820 brought into power the "jailbirds"—liberals of the 1812 vintage who had been persecuted by Ferdinand VII.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In many of the cases reviewed by investigators, Chinese immigrants said they had been persecuted for being Christian or followers of Falun Gong.

The New York Times

He said that he was living in "political exile," and saw himself as a dissident who had been persecuted for his views.

The New Yorker

Arms had also been supplied years ago by the Iranians to their Shiite allies in southern Iraq who had been persecuted by the Baath Party.

The New Yorker

The trial had become a focal point for legal activists, who said Mr. Li had been persecuted for defending unpopular clients.

The New York Times

He was first imprisoned in 1988 at 17 for showing solidarity with political prisoners who had been persecuted for their Islamic faith.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been persecuting" to describe a sustained pattern of mistreatment or oppression that occurred before a specific point in the past. This emphasizes the ongoing nature of the persecution.

Common error

Avoid using "had been persecuting" when referring to current or future actions. This tense is specifically for actions completed before a particular time in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been persecuting" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action of persecution that was ongoing for a period of time and completed before another point in the past. Ludwig shows this usage in news contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been persecuting" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense, used to describe a sustained and ongoing action of persecution that occurred before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig shows, it appears mainly in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, the phrase is relatively rare. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates both the ongoing nature of the persecution and its completion before another past event. Alternatives include "had been oppressing" or "had been harassing", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been oppressing

Replaces "persecuting" with "oppressing", indicating a more general form of domination and control.

had been harassing

Substitutes "persecuting" with "harassing", suggesting repeated and unwanted actions targeting an individual or group.

had been victimizing

Emphasizes the act of making someone a victim, shifting focus slightly from the actions of the persecutor.

had been mistreating

Replaces "persecuting" with a more general term for treating someone badly or unfairly.

had been discriminating against

Focuses specifically on discriminatory behavior as the form of persecution.

had been bullying

Implies a pattern of aggressive and intimidating behavior towards someone.

had been tormenting

Highlights the aspect of causing mental or emotional suffering.

had been subjecting to abuse

Replaces "persecuting" with a more direct description of the mistreatment as abusive.

had been carrying out a witch hunt against

Suggests a targeted and often unfounded campaign of persecution.

had been conducting a vendetta against

Indicates a prolonged and bitter feud or campaign of revenge.

FAQs

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

Use "had been persecuting" to describe a continuous action of persecution that took place before a specific point in the past. For example, "The regime "had been persecuting" dissidents for years before the revolution".

What's a synonym for "had been persecuting"?

Synonyms include "had been harassing", "had been oppressing", or "had been mistreating", each with slightly different connotations.

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

"Was persecuting" describes an ongoing action in the past without necessarily linking it to another past event, whereas ""had been persecuting"" emphasizes that the persecution occurred before a specific time in the past.

Is "had been persecuting" formal or informal?

"Had been persecuting" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone and subject matter. It's commonly found in news reports, historical accounts, and academic analyses.