had been resolving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been resolving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past before another action occurred. Example: "By the time the meeting started, they had been resolving the issues for hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Though the area was under insurgent control, the court was headed by mullahs who had been resolving disputes in the area for decades.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Something had been resolved.

The Guardian - Books

Nothing had been resolved.

The New Yorker

Still, little had been resolved.

The New York Times - Sports

Officials said the problem had been resolved.

The New York Times

The pilot was then satisfied the incident had been resolved.

The Guardian

The Times identified 370 that had been resolved.

The New York Times

Sientra said its issue with the S.E.C. had been resolved.

The New York Times - Health

Those issues, Mr. Schoenfeld informed them, had been resolved.

The New York Times

The last-minute compromises had been resolved, he said.

The Guardian

Democrats said they believed both potential problems had been resolved.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been resolving" to describe an action that was ongoing in the past and concluded before another past action or time. For example, "They "had been resolving" the dispute for weeks before the final agreement was reached."

Common error

Avoid using "had been resolving" to describe a present or future action. This tense is specifically for past actions that occurred over a period of time before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been resolving" functions as the past perfect continuous tense of the verb 'resolve'. It describes an action that was in progress over a period of time before another action occurred in the past. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been resolving" is used to describe a continuous action in the past that finished before another past action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and usable in various contexts, primarily news and media and academia. While relatively rare, it effectively communicates the duration of a past action aimed at reaching a solution. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the process of resolving something over time, before another event occurred in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been addressing

This alternative focuses on the act of dealing with issues or problems.

had been settling

This alternative emphasizes the act of reaching an agreement or conclusion.

had been fixing

This alternative stresses the act of repairing or correcting something.

had been working on

This alternative highlights the ongoing effort to solve a problem.

had been sorting out

This alternative focuses on organizing or clarifying a situation.

had been dealing with

This alternative emphasizes the management of a difficult situation.

had been rectifying

This alternative focuses on correcting errors or mistakes.

had been straightening out

This alternative highlights the act of making something clear or organized.

had been mediating

This alternative focuses on intervening in a dispute to promote resolution.

had been negotiating

This alternative emphasizes discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

FAQs

How do I use "had been resolving" in a sentence?

Use "had been resolving" to describe a continuous action in the past that finished before another past action. For example, "The team "had been resolving" technical issues before the system went live."

What are some alternatives to "had been resolving"?

You can use alternatives such as "had been addressing", "had been settling", or "had been working on" depending on the context.

Is "had been resolving" formal or informal?

"Had been resolving" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.

What is the difference between "had resolved" and "had been resolving"?

"Had resolved" indicates a completed action in the past, while "had been resolving" indicates a continuous action in the past that occurred over a period of time and finished before another past action.