had been sailing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sailing" 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: "By the time the storm hit, they had been sailing for several hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He was 62 and had been sailing for 41 years.

The New York Times - Travel

He recalled that, the previous Saturday, he had been sailing with Piano on the Italian Riviera.

The New Yorker

Hitherto we had been sailing in safe and known waters, where many others had preceded us.

The New Yorker

He had been sailing along when out of the blue his back tightened up.

The New York Times - Sports

The yacht's two owners had been sailing round the world distributing Bibles, accompanied by two holidaymakers.

The Guardian

Kolius had been sailing one, too, the 1D48 Abracadabra, that season.

The New York Times - Sports

I had been sailing with my brother on the Promise, his 49-foot Taswell sloop.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

They've been sailing all their lives.

Independent

They've been sailing too.

The Guardian

"We have been sailing ships forever," Mr. Murray said.

The New York Times

"I've been sailing them all my life and grew up sailing dinghies.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been sailing", ensure you're emphasizing the duration of the sailing activity leading up to a specific event in the past. For example, "They "had been sailing" for days before the storm hit", which indicates they sailed for a period of time before the storm.

Common error

Avoid using "had been sailing" when the simple past tense or past continuous tense would be more appropriate. "He sailed" is correct when describing a single, completed action in the past, while "he was sailing" is correct when describing an ongoing action at a specific time in the past. "He "had been sailing"" is appropriate when describing a continuous action that ended before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sailing" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that was ongoing for a duration before another action or point in the past. As shown in Ludwig, this construction accurately portrays actions continuing up to a specific point in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been sailing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past that preceded another event, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is typically used to set the scene and emphasize the duration of the sailing activity before something else occurred. Appearing most often in News & Media, its usage is considered neutral, applicable in both formal and informal contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the emphasis is on the duration of the sailing leading up to a specific past event, and avoid using it when a simpler past tense would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was sailing

This alternative is in the past continuous tense, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action at a specific time in the past, but doesn't necessarily imply a duration before another event like "had been sailing".

sailed for

This alternative focuses on the duration of the sailing activity and implies a completed action within a specific timeframe.

had sailed

This alternative uses the past perfect tense, emphasizing the completion of the sailing action before another event or time in the past.

had navigated

This alternative replaces "sailing" with "navigated", focusing on the act of directing a vessel or oneself, which might imply a specific route or challenge.

had journeyed by sea

This alternative is a more formal and descriptive way of saying "had been sailing", emphasizing the travel aspect of the activity.

had been voyaging

This alternative uses a more literary and less common word, "voyaging", suggesting a long and adventurous sea journey.

spent time sailing

This alternative is less specific about the continuous nature of the action, simply stating that time was dedicated to sailing.

was cruising

This alternative suggests a more leisurely form of sailing, often for pleasure and relaxation.

had been afloat

This alternative focuses on the state of being on the water rather than the act of sailing itself.

had taken to the seas

This alternative emphasizes the beginning of a sailing journey or career.

FAQs

How is "had been sailing" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had been sailing" describes a continuous action that occurred over a period of time before another event in the past. For example, "They "had been sailing" for hours when the storm approached."

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

"Was sailing" indicates an ongoing action at a specific point in the past, while "had been sailing" indicates a continuous action that occurred over a period of time before another event in the past. For example, "He "was sailing" when he saw the whale" versus "He "had been sailing" for hours when he saw the whale."

What are some alternatives to "had been sailing"?

Depending on the context, alternatives could include "sailed for", "had sailed", or "had navigated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "have been sailing" instead of "had been sailing"?

The phrase "have been sailing" is in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present. The phrase "had been sailing" is in the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started and ended in the past, before another past action or time. The correct tense depends on the context of your sentence.