had been pursuing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had been pursuing' is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is in the past perfect tense and can be used to refer to a continuous action that began before a particular time in the past and continues up until the reference time. For example: "By the time the police arrived on the scene, the suspect had been pursuing the victim for several blocks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Charter had been pursuing for eight months.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, he had been pursuing other leads.

The New York Times

Later, party representatives denied they had been pursuing partisan goals.

The Economist

Working with Richard was something we had been pursuing.

The New York Times

CBS had been pursuing the story for five years.

The Washington Post

I actually had been pursuing it for years.

The New York Times

The brothers had been pursuing the police case, running between hospitals.

The New York Times

The Mayor and his friends had been pursuing biotech and other forward-looking industries.

The New Yorker

Sheik Sadruddin, the district governor, said that officials had been pursuing Mr. Mansoor for months.

The New York Times

Both teams had been pursuing new computational methods to identify potential cancer drug combinations.

Columbia University

Coleman had been pursuing the untouched horizons in music ever since the beginning of his career.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly establishes the timeframe during which the pursuing action occurred, providing a reference point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been pursuing" when a simpler past tense ("pursued") or present perfect continuous tense ("has been pursuing") would be more appropriate. "Had been pursuing" is specifically for actions completed before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been pursuing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing sustained efforts or activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been pursuing" is a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense, used to describe an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. As indicated by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeframe and the point of reference in the past are clearly established. Common errors include misusing the tense when a simpler past tense would suffice. Alternatives like "had been seeking" or "had been working towards" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to consider the context to select the most accurate and appropriate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been seeking

Focuses on the act of trying to find or obtain something.

had been chasing

Emphasizes the act of following someone or something, often implying pursuit.

had been working towards

Highlights the effort and progress made towards a specific goal.

had been aiming for

Indicates a specific target or objective that has been the focus of effort.

had been striving for

Emphasizes the continuous effort and determination involved in achieving a goal.

had been trying to achieve

Highlights the attempt to accomplish something.

had been endeavoring to obtain

Emphasizes a serious and determined effort to get something.

had been hunting for

Emphasizes the search of someone or something, often implying pursuit.

had been following

Highlights the act of following someone or something, often implying pursuit.

had been shadowing

Implies close observation and tracking of someone's actions.

FAQs

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

Use "had been pursuing" to describe an action that was in progress before a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time the company secured funding, they "had been pursuing" the project for over a year."

What are some alternatives to "had been pursuing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had been seeking", "had been chasing", or "had been working towards" as alternatives to "had been pursuing".

When should I use "had been pursuing" instead of "pursued"?

"Had been pursuing" indicates a continuous action in the past that ended before another point in the past. "Pursued" simply states that the action occurred. For example, "They "had been pursuing" a merger for months before it finally fell through" vs. "They pursued a merger last year."

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

The correct tense depends on the context. "Has been pursuing" is present perfect continuous and describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had been pursuing" is past perfect continuous, referring to an action that was in progress before a specific point in the past.