had been returning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been returning" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred. Example: "She had been returning to the same café every Saturday for years before it closed down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Giants used running back Mike Cloud as a kickoff returner and put Willie Ponder, who had been returning kicks, on the inactive list.

The New York Times - Sports

Jyoti had been returning from a film at 8pm.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

At first, the soldiers said they had been returning fire.

The New York Times

The army said it had been returning fire.

The New York Times

The bus had been returning to New York from a casino in Connecticut.

The New York Times

The pilgrims had been returning to the capital after visiting a Shiite shrine in Samarra.

The New York Times

He had been returning from a late shift at his second job when he was struck.

The New York Times

Meyer said Bryjak had been returning to Germany from a performance.

The Guardian

The policemen were in civilian clothes and had been returning to their base from leave.

The Guardian

It had been returning from a sky-diving meet in Idaho when it disappeared.

The New York Times

Mr. Ahern had been returning from lunch when he witnessed the shooting, the mayor said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been returning" to clearly indicate an action that was in progress before another event occurred. This helps establish a sequence of events in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been returning" when a simpler past tense like "returned" or past continuous like "was returning" would suffice. Overusing the past perfect continuous can make your writing sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been returning" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another action or event occurred in the past. It establishes a clear sequence of events, emphasizing the duration of the return. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been returning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig. Its primary function is to establish a past action in progress before another event, commonly found in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to use it judiciously, ensuring the continuous aspect is relevant to the context. Alternatives like "was coming back" or "was heading back" can provide simpler options when the past perfect continuous isn't essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was going back

A basic and straightforward way to express the action of returning.

was coming back

A simpler and more direct way of saying someone was in the process of returning.

was heading back

Emphasizes the direction and intention of returning.

was on the way back

This alternative focuses on the direction of travel back to a location.

was making their way back

Highlights the effort or journey involved in returning.

was in the process of returning

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action of returning.

was en route back

A more formal way to say someone was on their way back.

was retracing their steps

Focuses on the act of going back along the same path.

was journeying back

Implies a longer or more significant return trip.

was homeward bound

Emphasizes the destination of home and the feeling of returning there.

FAQs

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

Use "had been returning" to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another action interrupted it. For example, "She "had been returning" home when she saw the accident."

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

"Had been returning" indicates a longer period of continuous action in the past before something else happened. "Was returning" simply describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. For instance, "She "had been returning" every day until she got robbed, she stopped". In this case was returning would be incorrect since it doesn't express the repited action

What can I say instead of "had been returning"?

You can use alternatives like "was coming back", "was going back", or "was heading back" depending on the specific context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "had been returning"?

Yes, it can be incorrect if the context doesn't require emphasizing the continuous nature of the action before another event. Sometimes, a simple past tense like "returned" or past continuous like "was returning" is more appropriate.