had been soaring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been soaring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that was ongoing in the past, particularly in relation to something that was increasing or rising significantly. Example: "The stock prices had been soaring for several months before the market correction occurred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Scores had been soaring.

The New York Times

Tensions had been soaring.

The New York Times

Household consumption had grown respectably but not spectacularly at a time when house prices had been soaring.

The Economist

The young Falcons and Vick had been soaring so high that they were considered the perfect test for the superb Bucs defense.

The New York Times - Sports

In China, where the stock market had been soaring, the government had warned banks about improper loans to finance stock speculation.

The New York Times

That moment came in mid-1998 -- the market had been soaring, but investors had yet to go completely out of their minds.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Pension costs have been soaring.

The New York Times

The demand has been soaring.

The New York Times

"But it has been soaring in March.

The New York Times

Global steel production has been soaring.

The Economist

One result has been soaring fees.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been soaring" to describe a trend or condition that was increasing significantly over a period of time in the past. It's effective for illustrating a growth phase before a change or plateau.

Common error

Avoid using "had been soaring" when the soaring is still happening. Instead, use "has been soaring" if the increase continues to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been soaring" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been soaring" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe a significant increase or upward trend that occurred over a period in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to illustrate a previous state of growth before a change or event. While less frequent than other similar phrases, it provides a specific nuance about the duration of the increase. Remember to use "has been soaring" instead if the increase is ongoing in the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been skyrocketing

Emphasizes a rapid and dramatic increase.

had been escalating

Focuses on a gradual but continuous increase, often in a problematic context.

had been climbing rapidly

Highlights the speed of the increase.

had been surging

Implies a powerful and sudden increase.

had been increasing exponentially

Indicates a very rapid acceleration of growth.

had been on the rise

A more general and less intense way to describe an increase.

had been ballooning

Suggests an increase in size or volume, often unexpectedly.

had been shooting up

Informal way to describe a fast, upward movement.

had been mounting

Focuses on the accumulation of something, such as pressure or costs.

had been advancing

Indicates steady progress or upward movement.

FAQs

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

Use "had been soaring" to describe something that was increasing significantly over a period of time in the past, such as, "The company's profits "had been soaring" before the economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "had been soaring"?

You can use alternatives like "had been skyrocketing", "had been escalating", or "had been climbing rapidly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "had been soaring" instead of "has been soaring"?

"Had been soaring" indicates a past continuous action that is no longer ongoing. Use "has been soaring" when the action started in the past and continues to the present.

What is the difference between "had been soaring" and "was soaring"?

"Had been soaring" emphasizes the duration of the increase over a period in the past, while "was soaring" simply describes a moment when something was increasing rapidly.