had been rolling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been rolling" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another action occurred. Example: "The ball had been rolling down the hill for several minutes before it finally came to a stop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

For two days in the Idaho mountains, Chase's cameras had been rolling virtually non-stop.

The New Yorker

While the good times had been rolling, he says, he'd stopped paying attention.

The Guardian

He told the league he had been "rolling the dice with players' safety and that someone could've been maimed".

The New York Times - Sports

Podesta argued that Keystone XL had been "rolling toward approval" before the G.O.P. put pressure on Obama.

The New Yorker

If the cameras had been rolling when I was in court all those times, I'd have a couple Oscars already".

The New York Times

Galileo had been rolling balls down inclined planes and making direct observations to evaluate his gravitation theory, but Darwin's theory of natural selection was less observable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

My eyes may well have been rolling.

The Guardian

Beyond would have been rolling countryside.

The Guardian - Travel

The party bus has been rolling ever since.

The New York Times - Sports

People have been rolling and shaping animal protein for millennia.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Puppies have been rolling on the cut grass.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been rolling" to describe an action or process that was ongoing for a period of time before another event occurred. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been rolling" when referring to events in the present or future. This phrase specifically denotes past continuous action. Use present continuous or future continuous tenses instead, such as "is rolling" or "will be rolling".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been rolling" functions as the past perfect progressive tense of the verb "roll". It describes an action that was ongoing for a period of time in the past before another action occurred or a specific point in time, indicating duration and completion before a subsequent event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been rolling" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that serves to describe an action in continuous progress in the past, prior to another point in time. Ludwig confirms the validity and usability of this phrase in writing. Its usage is particularly frequent in news and media, and its communicative purpose is to provide context and emphasize the duration of past actions. While relatively versatile, it's important to avoid using it in reference to present or future events, so you don't make errors related to tense. Alternative phrases like "had progressed steadily" or "had advanced continuously" can be considered depending on the context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had progressed steadily

Focuses on the consistent advancement or development over a period of time.

had advanced continuously

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the forward movement.

had been underway

Highlights the state of being in progress, often for a planned activity or project.

had moved forward

Indicates a shift from a previous state and a progression towards a goal.

had gained momentum

Suggests an increasing speed or force of action over time.

had continued unabated

Emphasizes the lack of interruption or reduction in intensity.

had unfolded steadily

Implies a gradual revelation or development of events.

had developed gradually

Highlights the slow and progressive evolution of something.

had maintained pace

Focuses on keeping a consistent speed or rate of progress.

had kept going

A more informal way of saying something continued without stopping.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been rolling" describes a continuous action in the past before another action took place. For example, "The company "had been rolling" out new features for months before the official product launch."

What are some alternatives to using "had been rolling"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "had been rolling" include "had progressed steadily", "had advanced continuously", or "had been underway".

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

The choice between "has been rolling" and "had been rolling" depends on the context. "Has been rolling" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had been rolling" indicates an action that was in progress in the past before another action occurred or a specific time. For example, "The project has been rolling smoothly since last year" versus "The project "had been rolling" for months before facing unexpected delays."

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

"Was rolling" describes a continuous action at a specific point in the past, while "had been rolling" describes a continuous action in the past that ended before another action or time. "The cameras "were rolling" during the interview" versus "The cameras "had been rolling" for hours before the main event began."