had been persisting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been persisting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or state that started in the past and continued up to a certain point in time. Example: "The issue had been persisting for several months before a solution was finally found."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, it was unknown whether the HPS had been persisting since infancy or was acquired.

Surgical Case Reports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"And they have been persisting in their misrepresentations [or] lies, whatever you want to call them, about their activities there to my face," Mr Kerry told a Senate Committee.

BBC

The prison service's operating body the National Offender Management Service NOMSS)—on the other hand, has been persisting with a dubious interpretation of the act.

Vice

In the case of studies regarding homosexuality, there has been persisting evidence of a genetic link with several follow up studies strengthening and building upon the conclusions of the original study.

Huffington Post

There are big differentials in schooling pattern between these two categories that have been persisted in India.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

However, this demanding information is still scarce despite the rising threats of pneumococcal infections have been persisted among the Malaysian populations for many years.

Plosone

This strategy assumed that children with persistent bilateral OME will require the use of HAs following the confirmation that bilateral OME has been persisted for 3 months.

BMC Health Services Research

It was particularly concerning that women had persisted with, or had been advised to persist with, using VTs in ways that caused pain.

BMC Women's Health

Improvement of the results of myocardial perfusion test on EECP therapy had been shown to persist for 3 years [ 30].

BMC Nephrology

A new release paradigm had been born that persists to this day, and this past weekend in particular.

The Guardian - Film

Other substances have been used but, despite major efforts by the cork industry and regular announcements that the problem had been eliminated, it persists.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been persisting" to describe a situation that started in the past and continued for a duration before another event or point in time. It's particularly useful when emphasizing the duration of the issue.

Common error

Avoid using "had been persisting" when the context requires a simple past tense. For example, instead of saying "The problem had been persisting when I arrived," consider "The problem was persisting when I arrived" if you're not emphasizing the duration prior to your arrival.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been persisting" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect progressive tense. It describes an action or state that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been persisting" is a grammatically sound past perfect progressive construction used to describe an action or state that continued for a period before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used correctly across various contexts, especially in scientific and news reporting. While alternatives exist, "had been persisting" distinctly emphasizes duration and context. When writing, use it to show the ongoing nature of a past event leading up to a specific moment, and be cautious of tense errors. Common sources are The New York Times, BBC and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had continued

Focuses on the simple continuation of an action or state.

had been ongoing

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the process.

had remained

Highlights the state of staying in a particular condition.

had carried on

Suggests persistence despite potential obstacles.

had kept up

Implies maintaining a certain level or pace.

had persevered

Emphasizes effort and determination in continuing.

had endured

Conveys a sense of surviving through difficult circumstances.

had subsisted

Suggests maintaining a minimal level of existence or activity.

had lingered

Implies a slow or reluctant departure or cessation.

had stretched

Focuses on the duration or extent of the continuation.

FAQs

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

Use "had been persisting" to describe a continuous action in the past that concluded before another point in the past. Example: "The rain "had been persisting" for days before the floods began."

What are some alternatives to "had been persisting"?

You can use alternatives like "had continued", "had been ongoing", or "had remained" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

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

No, "has been persisting" implies the action is continuing into the present. "Had been persisting" refers to an action that started and stopped in the past.

What is the difference between "had been persisting" and "was persisting"?

"Was persisting" describes a continuous action at a specific time in the past. "Had been persisting" emphasizes the duration of the action leading up to a point in the past.